Veteran prop Ben Cross has shelved his plans to retire and signed a new 12-month deal with Widnes Vikings.
 
The 33-year-old joined the Vikings for their first season back in Stobart Super League after brief spells with Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors, and was expected to hang up his boots at the end of the year.

“Having originally signed for just the one year, I now realise I’ve got at least another season left in me and I was keen for that time to be spent at Widnes,” he said.

“My body is still feeling pretty good and there are signs that we are definitely improving and moving in the right direction so I would have been foolish to look elsewhere.”

The former Melbourne, Canberra and Newcastle forward has missed only two games for the Vikings this year and scored his first try in 125 senior games in the win over Huddersfield Giants last month.

Widnes coach Denis Betts said: “Ben approached us and expressed an interest in doing another year and we were only too happy to go along with his suggestion.

“He is really happy at the club and we are really happy with him. He is a fantastic bloke and his experience in top-flight rugby league is invaluable both on and off the field.

“He is just starting to find his feet at Widnes. It’s a new club and he has a new group of players around him and they are only just getting to know each other.”