Robbie Ross (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Robbie Ross is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, he played his club football with the Newcastle Knights
, Brisbane Broncos
and Hunter Mariners
before settling at the Melbourne Storm
with whom he won the 1999 Premiership.
contract that year, joined Brisbane
while News Ltd. fought a battle through the courts to stage it's rebel competition.
The potent attacking fullback later honoured his contract with the newly formed Hunter Mariners
in 1997
. Ross represented New South Wales
in the Super League Tri-series competition, but following the demise of the Mariners and the re-unification of the game, quickly secured a contract with the Melbourne Storm
.
A great start to the 1999 season saw Ross chosen for NSW in the State of Origin
series. In the second match of the 1999 series, Ross scored the fastest try in Origin history when Ryan Girdler
sent him over in the corner from the second tackle of the match. Later that year, Melbourne’s historic grand final win catapulted Ross into the Australian Test team. After making his debut in the first match of the Tri-series competition, a 24–22 loss to New Zealand, he was replaced by Darren Lockyer
for the remainder of the series.
Ross started the 2000 season in superlative form, scoring 9 tries in 13 matches and retaining his position as New South Wales fullback, but was ruled out with a knee injury that was more serious than first thought. He was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. After being sidelined for the season, Ross returned in 2001 only to be hampered by chronic hamstring trouble. During 2002–03, matches were kept to a minimum, where Ross spent huge amounts of time on the sidelines with hamstring, knee and back injuries. He retired after the 2003 season at only 28 years of age, after it was revealed he had a bulging disc in his back.
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...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, he played his club football with the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and Hunter Mariners
Hunter Mariners
The Hunter Mariners were an Australian rugby league club based in the Hunter Valley region's largest city, Newcastle. Hunter was formed in mid 1995 and was later disbanded at the end of 1997. The club was formed because of the Super League war, which was the rivalry between the traditional...
before settling at the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
with whom he won the 1999 Premiership.
Career
Newcastle junior and Australian Schoolboy rep in 1992, forced clubmate Robbie O'Davis onto the wing during the 1995 season. Ross, who signed a Super LeagueSuper League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
contract that year, joined Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
while News Ltd. fought a battle through the courts to stage it's rebel competition.
The potent attacking fullback later honoured his contract with the newly formed Hunter Mariners
Hunter Mariners
The Hunter Mariners were an Australian rugby league club based in the Hunter Valley region's largest city, Newcastle. Hunter was formed in mid 1995 and was later disbanded at the end of 1997. The club was formed because of the Super League war, which was the rivalry between the traditional...
in 1997
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
. Ross represented New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in the Super League Tri-series competition, but following the demise of the Mariners and the re-unification of the game, quickly secured a contract with the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
.
A great start to the 1999 season saw Ross chosen for NSW in the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
series. In the second match of the 1999 series, Ross scored the fastest try in Origin history when Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league.-Rugby league career:Girdler first played in the NSWRL for the Illawarra...
sent him over in the corner from the second tackle of the match. Later that year, Melbourne’s historic grand final win catapulted Ross into the Australian Test team. After making his debut in the first match of the Tri-series competition, a 24–22 loss to New Zealand, he was replaced by Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
for the remainder of the series.
Ross started the 2000 season in superlative form, scoring 9 tries in 13 matches and retaining his position as New South Wales fullback, but was ruled out with a knee injury that was more serious than first thought. He was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. After being sidelined for the season, Ross returned in 2001 only to be hampered by chronic hamstring trouble. During 2002–03, matches were kept to a minimum, where Ross spent huge amounts of time on the sidelines with hamstring, knee and back injuries. He retired after the 2003 season at only 28 years of age, after it was revealed he had a bulging disc in his back.