Ross eyes Rabbitohs exit

HE IS starting to find the form that led him to a Queensland State of Origin jersey but Ben Ross says he is resigned to not being at South Sydney next season.

Ben Ross. Picture: Brett Wortman

HE IS starting to find the form that led him to a Queensland State of Origin jersey but Ben Ross says he is resigned to not being at South Sydney next season.

Ross, 31, is unsigned for 2012 and is on the hunt for an NRL contract but with the Rabbitohs having a number of stars on their roster, including internationals Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess, Ross yesterday admitted Redfern would no longer be home.

“There's been a lot of interest (from NRL clubs) but I'm just weighing up life options as well,” he told the Daily. “I've been out of the game for two years and I've got to look at life after footy. I'd love to stay at Souths but I probably won't be.

“I'll see what contracts come up but retirement's also a factor and whether I want to keep going on and battering my body.

“The thing about the salary cap over the last few years is that it's evening teams out,” he added.

“Guys who want to stay sometimes can't.

“There are a lot of high-profile players (at Souths) and it's disappointing for guys like me who are looking for contracts.”

Ross made 15 hit-ups, ran for 156m and scored a try in Souths' 47-18 thrashing of Canberra on Sunday.

His recent form is what the Rabbitohs have been hoping to see from him after going out on a limb and signing the former Cronulla prop after he broke his neck in 2009.

Ross, who's played all 21 matches this season, said it was always going to take him time to find his feet after two years off the field.

“It was always going to be the case and I was just looking to improve every game,” he said.

“I'VE been working on a few things lately and have improved my game a lot. At the moment I'm just looking at the three games I have left for the season. I'm not concentrating on anything else.”

Souths are sitting in ninth position, two points behind Newcastle, with three rounds to go.

They host North Queensland on Friday night before travelling to Brisbane next weekend. They come up against the Knights in the last round in a match which could decide who finishes eighth.

Ross said the Bunnies were confident a finals berth was achievable and that they hadn't left their run too late.

“You see the bottom teams beating the Dragons so anything can really happen,” he said.

“Everyone's been putting in as hard as they can and the bounce of the ball is starting to come our way.

“Nathan Merritt (nine tries in past two matches) has been doing crazy things too.”

Originally published as Ross eyes Rabbitohs exit