Newcastle star Nathan Ross shaving his head for charity in World’s Greatest Shave

NATHAN Ross played a 38-degree trial game with what felt like ‘a beanie’ on his head. The Knights winger had hair in his eyes and that’s because he hasn’t seen a barber for 10 months but it’s all in the name of charity.

Nathan Ross of the Knights is tackled during a trial against the Eels.

IT was a weeknight, the kids were in bed and Nathan Ross was on the lounge playing with his phone.

Earlier in the day he’d been at the hospital with his teammates Trent Hodkinson and Brock Lamb visiting sick children.

They were there as part of Hodkinson’s ‘Kick for Kids’ initiative where he writes a child’s name on his kicking tee.

Unwinding from his day, the Newcastle flyer opened Instagram for a look when he clicked on the magnifying glass icon and started scrolling.

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Two flicks of his thumb later and he landed on a photo which caught his eye.

After a few moments on the page, he wanted to help.

That’s when he decided to use his profile as an NRL player and put it to good use.

“I was scrolling through Instagram and I came across the World’s Greatest Shave,” Ross explained.

Nathan Ross of the Knights is tackled.

“Everyday 35 people are diagnosed with cancer.

“There’s got to be a cure out there somewhere for it. I want to try and help try and raise awareness about it.

“There will come a day where I won’t be able to come through these avenues and help people this way.”

So for the past 10 months, Ross has avoided the barber.

It hasn’t been easy. His teammate Danny Levi often cuts the hair of his teammates and the Knights have had some stinking hot days at training in recent months.

Still, the mop on the head stayed and it’s all in the name of charity.

Having created a page for The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave, Ross is planning to chop his locks off next Wednesday in time for the start of the new season.

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While the World’s Greatest Shave runs for another week, Ross is wrapping up a week early as the hair has actually become a playing hazard.

The heat was an issue for the Knights’ closed-door trial in Melbourne, while the strands of hair getting in his eyes created stress in last week’s loss to Parramatta.

Nathan Ross of the Knights in action.

“I’ve been sweating it out all pre-season with this haircut,” he explained.

“There’s been a few times where I would’ve loved to chop it off.

“The Melbourne trial was 38 degrees in dry heat. It felt like I had a beanie on. Hair was getting in my eyes but it’s for charity so it stayed.”

A father of two, son Ziah and daughter Willow, Ross is a family man.

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The last to leave the training paddock when supporters stop by to watch training, it’s no surprise he’s a fan favourite but he wants to do more than sign autographs and take photos.

Now he’s raising funds.

Nathan Ross is taking part in the World's Greatest Shave.

“Since I’ve become a father, these types of things touch you,” he said.

“Having a family, you hope that if something happens to your family, there’d be people out there willing to help.

“(People battling cancer) might see themselves as different going through the treatment and I want them to know they’re not alone.

“If they can see me having a game of football with my head shaved for them, it might lift their hopes a little bit.”

Originally published as Newcastle star Nathan Ross shaving his head for charity in World’s Greatest Shave