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Sea change sharpens Ben's skills
By Margie McDonald
March 3, 2006
BEN Ross's trek from the base of the NSW Blue Mountains to the foot of the sea also comes with the desire to break into the Test side and to help the Sharks win a premiership.
Not shy of setting himself a couple of big goals with his "sea change" from Penrith to Cronulla, Ross, 25, has thrived at his new club.
"They say a change is as good as holiday. It's great here but it's no holiday," Ross said.
"We've been getting flogged for the last four months but I'm really enjoying it. I've never felt better in myself, in feeling a bit fitter and a bit lighter."
Ross thought training would vary little from club to club. He was wrong.
"There is a big difference between Penrith and Cronulla. Penrith was more skills that you employ in games where Cronulla put in a lot of hard physical work as well as skills," he said.
"We do bikes, swimming, roller blades, totally different team training and it's enjoyable."
Ross made his NRL debut with Cronulla's arch rivals up the road, St George Illawarra, in 2002.
After a single season at the Dragons, he headed 80km west to Penrith for three years.Aware that the Sharks are closing in on their 40th anniversary and are yet to win a premiership, Ross thinks he can add something.
He won a premiership three years ago with Penrith and joins other premiership winners at the club.
It used to be just skipper Brett Kimmorley, who won the 1999 title with Melbourne, but off-season buys Darren Albert (successful with Newcastle in 1997 and St Helens in 2002 in the English Super League) as well as Ross can help share the load with the captain.
"Exactly right," Ross said. "We've also got Lance (Thompson) who's been in grand finals with St George Illawarra. So I hope that helps us to get through to the semis."
Ross said a spot in the Australian team for the Tri-Nations series is within easier reach if your club is in the finals series.
"We (Sharks) definitely have to make the semis this year for anyone to have a chance of the Tri-Nations, really," Ross said.
Ross is in Brisbane for a two-day Queensland Origin squad camp. He intends building on his six appearances in the past two seasons for the Maroons and is looking forward to working under new coach Mal Meninga.
Last year, he started off the bench in all three State of Origin games, interchanging with Petero Civoniceva, Steve Price and Brad Thorn.
He wants to break into the starting Queensland XIII.
"I want to maintain my spot in the Origin team and then push for Tri-Nations. But also, I want to make this team every week. I know it's going to be no walk-up to make the run-on team for the Sharks," Ross said.
He first met Meninga as part of the Prime Minister's XIII match against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby last October, his first Australian representative jumper, and he wants even more.
"A little bit of everything like fitness and strength and a bit of luck," Ross said, when asked what he needed to do to make the next step.
"You've also got to play hard in the right games."
That is just what Ross has been doing at the Sharks, leading up front in the 24-20 trial win over the Bulldogs at Mollymook on the NSW south coast three weeks ago. But rib soreness after the match saw him rested for the next trial against Newcastle, which was not one of the Sharks' finest displays. They lost 22-4.
Ross was in the stands and got a first-hand taste of how demanding the Sharks fans can be.
"When we were in Mollymook the fans were great but up at the coast they were pretty verbal and turned on the team because we weren't playing that well," he said. "It's the first time I've seen something like that, so it's made me think about the start to the season."
Coach Stuart Raper needs the 113kg Ross to replace Jason Stevens who has retired. "We lost a lot with Stevo leaving, but I think Ben will be just the trick," Raper said.
The Australian
Interesting and i guess it is good to be positive. The flogging at training?? worn out by mid season maybe.
The comment on the fans was good. Get used to mr ross, theres plenty to come
By Margie McDonald
March 3, 2006
BEN Ross's trek from the base of the NSW Blue Mountains to the foot of the sea also comes with the desire to break into the Test side and to help the Sharks win a premiership.
Not shy of setting himself a couple of big goals with his "sea change" from Penrith to Cronulla, Ross, 25, has thrived at his new club.
"They say a change is as good as holiday. It's great here but it's no holiday," Ross said.
"We've been getting flogged for the last four months but I'm really enjoying it. I've never felt better in myself, in feeling a bit fitter and a bit lighter."
Ross thought training would vary little from club to club. He was wrong.
"There is a big difference between Penrith and Cronulla. Penrith was more skills that you employ in games where Cronulla put in a lot of hard physical work as well as skills," he said.
"We do bikes, swimming, roller blades, totally different team training and it's enjoyable."
Ross made his NRL debut with Cronulla's arch rivals up the road, St George Illawarra, in 2002.
After a single season at the Dragons, he headed 80km west to Penrith for three years.Aware that the Sharks are closing in on their 40th anniversary and are yet to win a premiership, Ross thinks he can add something.
He won a premiership three years ago with Penrith and joins other premiership winners at the club.
It used to be just skipper Brett Kimmorley, who won the 1999 title with Melbourne, but off-season buys Darren Albert (successful with Newcastle in 1997 and St Helens in 2002 in the English Super League) as well as Ross can help share the load with the captain.
"Exactly right," Ross said. "We've also got Lance (Thompson) who's been in grand finals with St George Illawarra. So I hope that helps us to get through to the semis."
Ross said a spot in the Australian team for the Tri-Nations series is within easier reach if your club is in the finals series.
"We (Sharks) definitely have to make the semis this year for anyone to have a chance of the Tri-Nations, really," Ross said.
Ross is in Brisbane for a two-day Queensland Origin squad camp. He intends building on his six appearances in the past two seasons for the Maroons and is looking forward to working under new coach Mal Meninga.
Last year, he started off the bench in all three State of Origin games, interchanging with Petero Civoniceva, Steve Price and Brad Thorn.
He wants to break into the starting Queensland XIII.
"I want to maintain my spot in the Origin team and then push for Tri-Nations. But also, I want to make this team every week. I know it's going to be no walk-up to make the run-on team for the Sharks," Ross said.
He first met Meninga as part of the Prime Minister's XIII match against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby last October, his first Australian representative jumper, and he wants even more.
"A little bit of everything like fitness and strength and a bit of luck," Ross said, when asked what he needed to do to make the next step.
"You've also got to play hard in the right games."
That is just what Ross has been doing at the Sharks, leading up front in the 24-20 trial win over the Bulldogs at Mollymook on the NSW south coast three weeks ago. But rib soreness after the match saw him rested for the next trial against Newcastle, which was not one of the Sharks' finest displays. They lost 22-4.
Ross was in the stands and got a first-hand taste of how demanding the Sharks fans can be.
"When we were in Mollymook the fans were great but up at the coast they were pretty verbal and turned on the team because we weren't playing that well," he said. "It's the first time I've seen something like that, so it's made me think about the start to the season."
Coach Stuart Raper needs the 113kg Ross to replace Jason Stevens who has retired. "We lost a lot with Stevo leaving, but I think Ben will be just the trick," Raper said.
The Australian
Interesting and i guess it is good to be positive. The flogging at training?? worn out by mid season maybe.
The comment on the fans was good. Get used to mr ross, theres plenty to come
