Ben Harris
Encyclopedia
Ben Harris is an Australian former rugby league
player. He is the first player in the history of the sport to have won grand finals in each hemisphere over consecutive seasons. He played in the National Rugby League
(NRL) for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 premiership, and the North Queensland Cowboys
. He also played in England for the Bradford Bulls
, with whom he won the 2005 Super League championship
. He played primarily as a centre.
in 2004.
in May 2005, saying that his wife, who was born in Portugal, wanted to live in Europe. Bradford won the Super League
premiership in his first season there, and he started in the grand final
win over the Leeds Rhinos
. He thus won premierships in each hemisphere over consecutive seasons, becoming the first player in the history of rugby league to do so.
as a replacement for the retiring Paul Bowman in the centres. In his first season for the Cowboys he was selected for the Country Origin team, his first and only representative football. Over time, he moved into the Cowboys' forward pack, playing in the second row. He retired from professional football after injury plagued seasons in 2009 and 2010.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. He is the first player in the history of the sport to have won grand finals in each hemisphere over consecutive seasons. He played in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 premiership, and the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. He also played in England for the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, with whom he won the 2005 Super League championship
Super League X
engage Super League X is the official name of 2005's Super League season. It was the 10th season of Super League and saw twelve teams from across England compete for the premiership. The season kicked off in early February, culminating in a six team play-off seriesThe Grand Final, held at Old...
. He played primarily as a centre.
Canterbury
Harris made his NRL debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2002 at the age of 18. He played in 42 first-grade matches for the club, including as the starting centre for their grand final victory over the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in 2004.
Bradford Bulls
Harris joined English club the Bradford BullsBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in May 2005, saying that his wife, who was born in Portugal, wanted to live in Europe. Bradford won the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
premiership in his first season there, and he started in the grand final
2005 Super League Grand Final
The 2005 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 15 October 2005, at Old Trafford, Manchester, England. The game was played between Bradford Bulls, who finished 3rd in the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second after the weekly rounds.-Route to final:Regular...
win over the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. He thus won premierships in each hemisphere over consecutive seasons, becoming the first player in the history of rugby league to do so.
North Queensland Cowboys
Harris returned to the NRL in 2008, signing for the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
as a replacement for the retiring Paul Bowman in the centres. In his first season for the Cowboys he was selected for the Country Origin team, his first and only representative football. Over time, he moved into the Cowboys' forward pack, playing in the second row. He retired from professional football after injury plagued seasons in 2009 and 2010.