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In just his second season of professional rugby, powerful centre Ryan Cross has won The West Australian/Rosendorff Emirates Western Force Player of the Year Award for 2008.
The award was announced tonight at the Emirates Western Force Awards Night at the Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth.
In the closest race for the coveted crown in its three-year history, a count back system was implemented to declare the winner after Cross, Drew Mitchell and Scott Fava all finished on equal points (8).
The 28 year old won a magnificent Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II 18ct Gold watch, valued at $14,000 and kindly donated by Rosendorff jewellers and Rolex.
The former Australian Schoolboy led the WA side with four tries, before his streak of 24 consecutive appearances in the ocean blue jersey came to an end when he fractured his cheekbone with two rounds remaining in the 2008 season.
Cross capped his watershed Super 14 season by making his Test debut against France in Sydney last month, before notching up a brace of tries in the second Test in Brisbane last weekend.
In April this year the Waverly College product declared his allegiance to the Emirates Western Force, signing on with the club until the end of 2011.
Cross said taking out the team’s top individual honour was unexpected.
“I was very surprised when my name was read out to be honest. Although I felt I had a pretty good season there were a number of other players in the team who performed well throughout the year,” said Cross.
“I guess that shows in how close the voting was. Any number of players could have won it,” he said.
“But I’m very proud and grateful for the recognition I’ve received for my season. I’ve really enjoyed my first two years with the Emirates Western Force and the staff, players and coaches have made the transition so comfortable for me.”
Cross said there was a sense of “unfinished business” in the team after achieving only some of its goals for 2008.
“Although we didn’t make the semi finals, we still achieved a number of goals and have progressed as a team,” he said.
“Winning in New Zealand was a major goal and we were able to win two from three there this year. We’ve also got a number of exciting young players coming through so there’s good reason to be optimistic about the future,” he said.
“We really want to be contesting semi finals next year and pushing for the title.”
Cross is the third different winner of the award in the team’s three-year history, after Scott Staniforth won the inaugural prize and Matt Giteau claimed the 2007 gong.
He also thanked The West Australian, Rosendorff and Rolex for their generous support of the award.
2008 The West Australian/Rosendorff EWF Player of the Year Award Vote Recipients
Ryan Cross*, Drew Mitchell, Scott Fava – 8pts
Matt Giteau, Tom Hockings – 7pts
Nathan Sharpe, Scott Staniforth – 6pts
David Pocock, Matt Hodgson – 5pts
Tai McIsaac, Richard Brown – 4pts
Nick Cummins – 3pts
Cameron Shepherd, Tamaiti Horua, Dane Haylett-Petty – 2pts
Pek Cowan – 1pt
* Winner on count back
FACT FILE - Ryan Cross
Position: Centre
Physical: 1.91m, 100kg
Age: 28 (Born 6/10/79 in Sydney, NSW)
Super 14 Caps: 24
Super 14 Points: 35 (7t)
Super 14 Debut: 2007 v Highlanders, Perth
Test Caps: 2
Test Points: 10 (2t)
Test Debut: 2008 v France, Sydney
Representative Honours: Australian Schoolboys (1996-97), Australia A (2007), Australian Wallabies (2008).
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