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Wallabies league convert Ryan Cross finds himself an endangered species but says he can fully understand Timana Tahu's controversial move back to rugby league.
- Jim Morton
- July 24, 2009 - 3:24PM
Cross on Friday spoke of the pressure and struggles code jumpers face dealing with "cultural differences" in rugby involving considerably more time away from family, game transition and greater scrutiny.
The powerful Test centre stands as the last high-profile convert in rugby after Tahu this week decided to follow Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers back to the NRL.
Fellow Wallabies centre Berrick Barnes also played in the NRL before switching to the Reds but, unlike the other code-jumpers, was a mere rookie with just one NRL game under his belt.
With Lote Tuqiri's contract torn up by the Australian Rugby Union last month, the former Sydney Rooster is only too aware ex-league stars are a dying breed in the Wallabies squad.
"It's a bit like that, there's a bit of funny banter around about me being the last one and that sort of thing," Cross told AAP.
But while the 29-year-old admitted to sharing some of Tahu's frustrations, Cross is adamant he's happy and staying ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
"I think I'm happy where my league career was," said Cross.
"I spent nine years playing there and I'm happy in rugby now so I couldn't see myself going back.
"I am pretty happy, I can see where (Tahu) is coming from. It's not easy with a family and all the travel."
Cross's wife and two young daughters live in Perth where he plays for Super 14 team Western Force but he will hardly see them during Australia's Tri-Nations campaign.
Even though the Wallabies training camp broke up on Friday, he's staying on in Sydney over the weekend to play club rugby before the squad reassembles on next week and then flies to South Africa.
"I finds it very hard trying to balance my rugby and my family life because rugby has an unbelievable amount of travel," he said.
"It's definitely hard on my wife but we're trying to work it out to make it easier."
Cross revealed he'd spoken with a disenchanted Tahu about the struggles at times before his fellow centre agreed to a three-year deal with his former NRL club Parramatta.
"We would talk at training about travelling and league and the big cultural difference with being away so much."
Cross rejected the belief backs had it easy compared to forwards in making the transition from league.
"It's not easy to play anywhere," he said. "You are so used to playing rugby league there's so much scrutiny on everything you do and so much pressure to perform and it can get to you.
"I think it did to Lote and Timana and even myself coming across, it does get to you.
"Some union people don't like you coming across from league and it does make it hard that way.
"But having said that the teams are very accepting and I've really enjoyed my time in rugby."
Cross, who played 11 of Australia's 13 Tests in 2008, felt he'd been fortunate compared to Tahu in being able to settle in the one position at outside centre for the Western Force.
Tahu has battled for game time as injury and continual moves around the Waratahs backline also prevented him getting established in the code.
"He had a lot of injuries which didn't help him as well, that confidence of playing week in and week out helps you so much, it helped me," Cross said.
"I know in my first 10 games I was a bit scratchy about where to go and what to do at the rucks and mauls so I felt I've got a full handle on that now."
http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-n...7.html?page=-1
Piss poor research for a Queenslander, Jim. The young 18-19yo Barnes played 2 seasons for the Broncos Q Cup feeder team Toowoomba Clydesdales. He was an outstanding 5/8. He was called into the NRL team on 9 occasions. How do these blokes get to be sports writers?[*]Jim Morton
Fellow Wallabies centre Berrick Barnes also played in the NRL before switching to the Reds but, unlike the other code-jumpers, was a mere rookie with just one NRL game under his belt.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
I think one of the main differences between Cross and Sailor, Tahu, Tuqiri and Rogers was the lack of hype when he came over. This allowed him time to grasp the game. He also got a season of ARC under his belt. The others were promoted as Wallabies before they'd played a game.
Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
i thought Clinton Schifcofske was a mungo as well?
Clinton Schifcofske, yep was a mungo so was Mark McLinden former Raiders, and Nick Henderson former Brumbies now Force prop. Timani Sharks and Rock Elsom Canterbury Bulldogs. Additionally Tyrone Smith Roosters and a spell with Harlequins RL (formerly the London Broncos)... Fainifo league junior like JOC....
Josh Tatupu?
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
i think the big difference between Cross and Wendell, Lote, Rogers and Tahu. Cross was never promised a Wallabies Jersey, Cross worked his butt off to not only make the Wallabies but make the Force as well.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa