Former Origin player named as Jets prepare for 40th anniversary celebrations
Newly-appointed Ipswich Jets Head of Football Ben Cross shares his first priority having an expanded role taking the state league club forward.
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Newly-appointed Ipswich Jets Head of Football Ben “Boss’’ Cross will have an expanded role taking the state league club forward.
Preparing to tackle his latest challenge after being a specialist coach with the PNG Hunters, Cross shared his first task at the Jets.
“The first priority is retaining the roster that we’ve currently got,’’ he said.
“See what holes there are that need to be filled and just making sure there’s an environment that local Ipswich kids can come through the grades and a pathway to the NRL.’’
He said his focus was setting high standards, accountability and “all the things that makes them qualify to become an NRL player or to develop players to enjoy whatever levels they want to reach.’’
Cross, 42, joins the Jets after a decade of National Rugby League, Origin and overseas playing experience.
From 2003-13, the powerful former prop represented the Canberra Raiders, Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights, Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings.
He was part of the Storm’s 2006/07 NRL grand final victories.
Cross twice lined up for the NSW Origin team in 2008 after two matches for the NSW Country Origin side a year earlier.
He returned to Newcastle after his three-year overseas stint.
Wagga-born Cross has since performed important coach or assistant coaching roles with the PNG Hunters, Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights NSW Cup team that lost to the Jets in the 2015 Interstate grand final.
He was proud of his three-year coaching stint with the NSW Origin women’s rugby league side that beat Queensland for the first time.
Jets CEO Richard Hughes said Cross would bring years of experience to the revamped full-time role.
“He will basically be the head of the whole department so he will have the other coaches working with and reporting to him,’’ Hughes said.
“As he grows into his role, he will then be in the community running academies, clinics . . . working with the local clubs and the local talent as well as bringing the opportunities for players from outside the region to come and play for the Ipswich Jets as well.’’
Hughes said Cross would lead from the front coaching the Jets Intrust Super Cup side while building new pathways.
“Subsequently, the role of head coach of our ISC side, which has been part-time for many years, will cease to continue,’’ Hughes said.
Cross said the Jets Head of Football role suited him after his involvement with a number of previous clubs.
“It’s an amalgamation of everything,’’ he said.
That includes as an NRL player, coach, business development manager and personal trainer.
Growing up in the NSW coastal town of Batemans Bay, Cross inherited his nickname “Boss’’ from a fiery fan who liked his style during his playing days at the Canberra Raiders in 2003.
Cross knows his new role is all encompassing as Head of Football and head coach.
“It’s two hats I have got to wear but they cross over so much that as a head coach, you should be the club head coach anyway,’’ he said.
Hughes said the restructure was a “necessary step’’ to take “to streamline delivery and give the opportunity to focus on the whole football program’’.
He said having someone like Cross working full-time would allow him to scout for new talent as he travels around Queensland.
“This opens up a whole new area of opportunity to bring the very best players into our region, to support and excite the kids coming up through our local pathways and to enhance our core group of players,’’ Hughes said.
Cross replaces former head coach Keiron Lander who was unable to commit to the full-time demands of the new Jets Head of Football position.
Hughes said the other Jets coaches - for the Colts (under 21), Mal Meninga Cup (under 18), Cyril Connell Challenge (under 16) and under-19 women’s team - would be named in coming days.
The latest appointments follow last Saturday night’s 2021 Ipswich Jets presentation function at the North Ipswich Reserve Corporate Centre.
Hughes was pleased to see so much club spirit among the rugby league and netball fraternity as awards were celebrated.
“It’s a recognition as a club and all the different areas of the community,’’ he said.
“One of the key things is getting various areas of the club right and making sure that we make the right path going forward both for football and the netball.’’
Hughes said the USQ Jets netball coaches would also be appointed for next season as Netball Queensland finalises licences.
The Jets have played in the past three Sapphire and Ruby competitions, making finals each year.
Looking ahead to the club’s 40th anniversary next year, Hughes said the Jets had a number of special activities planned.
A major initiative is the footballers running out in a replica 1982 jersey for home and away games.
“It (the jersey) was a solid green with white sleeves,’’ Hughes said. “In those days, they had long sleeves but forearms have changed a bit over the time.’’
He said playing in a similar 1982 strip would pay homage to the achievements of past Jets players.
Along with that, every Jets footballer from number one to 615 will have their name recognised on a Hero Wall at the North Ipswich Reserve and gym.
“It’s something that will be a forever record of who played for the Jets,’’ Hughes said.
The Jets will also unveil a nine-part video series in 2022 presented in conjunction with USQ.
“That will be a reflection of the Ipswich Jets from 1982 to now but also focus on the future,’’ Hughes said. “And that will be something that we’ll get out on a regular basis through next year.’’
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