Pumped-up Cross ready to pack punch Prop primed for final charge at semi berth
BY BRETT KEEBLE
KNIGHTS coach Brian Smith reckons NSW prop Ben Cross is poised to put a frustrating domestic season behind him and lead Newcastle's charge to the finals, starting with tomorrow's game against the Raiders at Canberra Stadium.
A premiership-winner with Melbourne last year, Cross was recruited to add some mongrel and muscle to Newcastle's pack, but wrist, thumb and knee injuries have restricted the 29-year-old enforcer to just five NRL appearances.
Cross broke his thumb playing in Origin I on May 21 then did not play again until Newcastle's 16-14 loss to the Roosters five weeks later. He was recalled for Origin III, in which he rebroke his thumb and tore medial ligaments in his knee, and has not played since.
But Cross said his knee had felt good for two weeks, and hand specialist Bryce Meads gave his thumb the all-clear earlier this week, freeing him to return against the Raiders tomorrow.
"What Crossy's brought to our club this year is a lot of stuff that's behind the scenes and off the field. It's probably in front of him yet, the bit where he gives the team confidence by what he does on the field," Smith said.
"Through injury, he's just not been able to deliver that sort of continuous, vigorous football that he can play that loosens the opposition up a bit. I'm looking forward to him adding that over the next few weeks."
Smith will finalise his 17-man squad when the Knights train behind closed doors today and, although he will keep that information to himself until an hour before kick-off, he indicated Cross and fellow front-rowers Jesse Royal (knee) and Danny Wicks (ankle) would all return from the injured list and play.
Centres Wes Naiqama (foot) and Keith Lulia (leg) had been cleared to return from injury, Smith said, but Naiqama missed training yesterday due to a dose of the flu.
Lulia left yesterday's session early and Naiqama is expected to train today but neither are likely to play tomorrow. It is understood Cooper Vuna or regular right winger James McManus will replace the suspended Adam MacDougall in the centres.
Cross made his NRL debut for Canberra in 2003 and spent three seasons there before joining Melbourne in 2006 and helping transform the Storm into the superpower they have become.
"I had three good years there, and it's always good to get back there and play against the old teammates and see some old friends," Cross said.
"I just can't wait to get back out there and get a good month of footy under my belt before the semis, hopefully. After a few games I'd prefer to start but, coming back from injury, starting or coming off the bench doesn't really faze me."
Cross said the Knights and Raiders had exceeded the expectations of many pundits this year after being dismissed as pretenders during pre-season predictions.
"A lot of people wrote off Canberra Raiders at the start of the season, and us as well. We were both supposed to be fighting it out for the wooden spoon," Cross said.
Smith said utility forward Mark Taufua was not considered because his fiancee, Angie, was due to give birth today to their first child.
Raiders coach Neil Henry is likely to include prop Scott Logan, who is due back after missing two games with a knee injury, at the expense of Nigel Plum or Neville Costigan.
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