Robbie Ross (rugby league)

Robbie Ross (born 24 January 1975) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in 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.

Robbie Ross
Ross in 2023
Personal information
Born (1975-01-24) 24 January 1975 (age 49)
Swansea, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight84 kg (13 st 3 lb)
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1994–95 Newcastle Knights 20 4 0 0 16
1996 Brisbane Broncos 12 8 0 0 32
1997 Hunter Mariners 16 5 0 0 20
1998–03 Melbourne Storm 89 53 0 0 212
Total 137 70 0 0 280
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1997 New South Wales (SL) 2 0 0 0 0
1999 New South Wales 3 1 0 0 4
1999 Australia 1 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP

Early life

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Born in Griffith, New South Wales. Ross was educated at Swansea High School, where he represented 1992 Australian Schoolboys.

Robbie is a local Newcastle Knights junior.

Playing career

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Ross forced clubmate Robbie O'Davis onto the wing during the 1995 season. Ross, who signed a Super League contract that year, joined Brisbane while News Ltd fought a battle through the courts to stage its rebel competition.[1]

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 another newly formed club, the Melbourne Storm[2] as the first player signed by the club.

A great start to the 1999 season saw Ross chosen for the New South Wales rugby league team. In the second match of 1999 State of Origin 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, Ross played at fullback for Melbourne in their historic 1999 NRL Grand Final victory and was catapulted into the Australian Test team. After making his debut in the first match of the 1999 Tri-nations series, a 24–22 loss to New Zealand, he was replaced by Darren Lockyer for the remainder of the tournament.[3]

Having won the 1999 Premiership, Melbourne Storm contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against Super League Champions St Helens R.F.C., with Ross playing at fullback and scoring two tries in the victory. Ross started the 2000 NRL season in superlative form. He scored 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 lengthy amounts of time on the sidelines with hamstring, knee and back injuries. He retired just before the start of the 2004 season at only 29 years of age, after it was revealed he had a bulging disc in his back.[1][4]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of career[5]
Denotes seasons in which Ross won an NRL Premiership
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts W L D W-L %
1994 Newcastle 8 1 0 0 4 2 6 0 25.0
1995 Newcastle 12 3 0 0 12 8 4 0 66.7
1996 Brisbane 12 8 0 0 32 8 4 0 66.7
1997 Hunter 16 5 0 0 20 6 10 0 37.5
1998 Melbourne 21 9 0 0 36 13 7 1 64.3
1999 Melbourne 25 20 0 0 80 18 7 0 72.0
2000 Melbourne 13 9 0 0 36 7 5 1 57.7
2001 Melbourne 14 6 0 0 24 6 7 1 46.4
2002 Melbourne 11 6 0 0 24 1 9 1 13.6
2003 Melbourne 5 3 0 0 12 2 3 0 40.0
Career totals 137 70 0 0 280 71 62 4 53.28

State of Origin

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[6]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts W L D W-L %
1999 New South Wales 3 1 0 0 4 1 1 1 50.0
Career totals 3 1 0 0 4 1 1 1 50.00

Australia

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[7]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts W L D W-L %
1999 Australia 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0
Career totals 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rugby League Project – Robbie Ross". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  2. ^ "'Super hero' Lazarus blows in". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited. 30 October 1997. p. 46.
  3. ^ Middleton, David (2000). Rugby League 2000. Sydney: Harper Sports. ISBN 0732265576.
  4. ^ Whiticker, Alan; Hudson, Glen (2005). Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players – Melbourne Storm. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. pp. 73–74. ISBN 1920910549.
  5. ^ Robbie Ross' player profile at Rugby League Tables
  6. ^ Robbie Ross' Representative player profile at Rugby League Project
  7. ^ Robbie Ross' International player profile at Rugby League Project
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