Matthew Cross
Date of Birth : 26 April, 1981
Height : 193 cm
Weight : 110 kg
Position : Front row, back row
Rep. Honours : Nil
Junior Clubs : Batemans Bay Tigers
Previous Clubs : Parramatta 2003-04, Penrith 2005-07, Gold Coast 2008
FG Debut : Penrith v North Queensland, Dairy Farmers, 23/7/05 (Rd 20)
Club Debut : N/A
Career: Born in Wagga Wagga, Cross, the younger brother of former Storm premiership winner Ben, played his junior rugby league at Batemans Bay. Scouted by Parramatta, Cross spent two years at the Eels, before making a name for himself at Penrith. He made his first grade debut in 2005 for the Panthers. Moved to the Gold Coast Titans last year but played most of the season in the Queensland Cup. Will be looking to get back to the big time this year.
Preview: Cross will be keen to step out of younger brother Ben’s shadow in Melbourne and create his own legacy at the Storm. Big, strong and tireless, Cross will provide extra grunt to the Storm’s engine room in 2009. Will battle the likes of Jeff Lima, Brett White and Adam Blair for time up front, and could play a similar role to the one Antonio Kaufusi had in 2008.