School’s ou t f o r D e o n now
EX-TUTOR LIVING DREAM WITH DEVILS
Leeds v Salford Today, 3pm EXCLUSIVE
BY JULIE STOTT
DEON CROSS happily admits he is living his dream with Salford after packing in his job as a college tutor.
But now, just months after becoming a full-time professional, the centre, 26, is convinced the fairy-tale can get even better.
Salford are the form team in Super League, with five wins from six, and have a play-off spot firmly in their sights.
It is a goal that Cross barely thought possible on his nine-year journey to becoming a Super League player.
He said: “In the past, if someone had come to me and said, ‘You’ll play one Super League game’, I’d have taken it with both hands.
“That would have been a dream. But to play every game so far this season has been brilliant and I’m so happy to be where I am.”
Cross was rejected by hometown club St Helens as a teenager, forcing him to return to the amateur game.
Four years ago, Championship side Rochdale I’m happy and offered him a never want to
go back to a chance, with
nine-to-five job moves to Barrow and then Widnes following.
That meant part-time training and working as a full-time college sports tutor – until Salford gave him his longed-for chance in the big time this season.
He said: “It’s always in my head where I’ve come from because I never want to go back to a nine-to-five job.
“I keep myself grounded and never get ahead of myself, but it would be a great achievement for the
club and the fans if we make the top six.
“If we do get into the playoffs, we could have a real dig, hopefully, given how we’re playing now.
“We’re down to the bare bones with injuries, but there is such a bond in this team. We just want to work hard for each other.” Salford produced a shock 44-12 win over champions St Helens last Sunday, playing some outstanding rugby.
They have also turned on the style in recent wins in their current red-hot spell of form, including a 32-6 win over last season’s Grand Finalists Catalans.
Cross said: “People think we just do it off-the-cuff, but we practise this sort of rugby. We train hard to play this way and it’s nice when it comes off.”
Salford’s defence was controversially questioned by Sky TV pundit Jon Wilkin recently, but their current form proves they can hack it at both ends of the pitch.
Cross added: “We know we are going to score, but we know defence wins games and we work really hard on that.”
Today’s opponents Leeds are also in the play-off mix, thanks to four wins in their last five games.
St Helens 21
Wigan 22 16 0 6 648 395 32
Huddersfield 22 14 1 7 493 386 29 Catalans 26 Castleford 22 Salford
Hull
14
12 10