Experienced Australian prop Ben Ross has joined London Broncos for the 2014 season. Ross 33, who hails from Chinchilla in Queensland, made six State of Origin appearances during an illustrious NRL career, writes Dave Lawrenson.

He has played club football for St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers (with whom he won the 2003 NRL Premiership) and South Sydney Rabbitohs before finishing his NRL career with Cronulla Sharks. The 191 cm (6ft 3 ins),110 kg (17st 5lbs) front rower hung up his boots at the end of the 2013 season but was tempted out of retirement by the prospect of playing for the Broncos in Super League.

 “He retired, but the word going around Australia was that he didn’t really want to,” said Broncos head coach Tony Rea. “We made a phone call and it was the easiest deal we’ve ever done.

“The guy was so hungry to keep playing. If someone has retired and you’ve got to drag them out, that usually means a week of talking to the wife and kids but this was done in an hour. This was a bloke who wanted to play. He’s a meat and potatoes prop who will drive you forward and gets all his jobs done.”