Cross gets first prize for Force
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:21
In just his second season of professional rugby, powerful centre Ryan Cross has won the Western Force Player of the Year Award for 2008.
The award was announced at the 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 former Australian Schoolboy led the Western Australia 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 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.
"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 Western Force and the staff, players and coaches have made the transition so comfortable for me," he added.
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 semifinals, we still achieved a number of goals and have progressed as a team," admitted Cross.
"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.
"We really want to be contesting semifinals next year and pushing for the title," he added.
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.
RugbyWA
