Bradford Bulls: Ben Jeffries to make permanent pit stop in Australia!

7:50am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Ben Jeffries says people are 'queuing up' to be miners in Australia Ben Jeffries says people are 'queuing up' to be miners in Australia

Ben Jeffries today announced a remarkable change of career – he is heading back to Australia to take up a job as a miner.

The stand-off has spent the past decade in Super League, including two separate spells with both Wakefield and Bradford, but has now decided to return home.

He will play on a part-time basis in the Newcastle Rugby League competition for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs, who have secured him a job at the Garth Short Mining company at the Hunter Valley in Newcastle, New South Wales.

The family man, wife Danielle, seven-year-old daughter Mackenzi and four-year-old son Jack will leave Yorkshire in early October, with Jeffries scheduled to begin his new role in mid-November.

The 32-year-old - the only Australian to play in Super League for 10 successive seasons - said: “I’ve spent the last ten years here and that’s quite a long time away from my family back home.

“I’ve got the opportunity to go and play and work pretty much where I come from.

“I’ll be playing for Kurri Kurri Bulldogs, which is a local competition but still pretty much classed as the best in New South Wales below the NRL and the Under-20s.

“Through that I’ve been offered a job in the mines, which allows me to earn the same sort of money I earn now for the rest of my working life if I want to stay in that industry. It’s a no-brainer really.

“I don’t know what my exact role will be just yet but I’ll be working in the mining industry and I know that when I get there I can diversify into certain categories of mining – I can be open-cut or underground.

“Coal mining is a massive industry in Australia and people are queuing up to get into that line of work, so I’m grateful to have landed this job.

“All I’ve known since leaving school is rugby league and this is going to be a massive learning curve.”

Jeffries has enjoyed a fine campaign at Odsal and is one of 17 players out of contract at the end of the season.

He added: “I’ve loved playing for Wakefield and Bradford but starting a 9-5 job and living in a country I’ve not lived in for ten years represents a new challenge for me now.

“I’ve got to find somewhere to live, I’ve got to find a car and schools for the kids.

“I’ve had tremendous support throughout my career from my wife and my family back home, so I’ll be ready for the next chapter of my life.”

Comments(27)

flashdonut says...
8:11am Wed 5 Sep 12

All the best Ben. Good luck in your new career.

Report this post »

Steampig says...
8:20am Wed 5 Sep 12

Glad he has sorted out a job and his future is secure because it is all still very much up in the air at Odsal. Good luck in the future.

Report this post »

matthewpr says...
8:51am Wed 5 Sep 12

Such a shame to see you go but all the best. Good luck Jeffries.

Report this post »

raisemeup says...
9:32am Wed 5 Sep 12

Sorry to see you are leaving, enjoyed watching you play... all the best for the future. We will certainly miss you. Good Luck

Report this post »

Sheffieldbull says...
9:36am Wed 5 Sep 12

One of the game's un-sung heroes, good luck for the future Ben.

Report this post »

Hudzilla says...
9:43am Wed 5 Sep 12

Best of luck Ben, you can hold your head high, knowing you've done the teams you've played for proud

Report this post »

beardedclam says...
10:00am Wed 5 Sep 12

When a decent player retires from the professional game to become a miner, you realise that the sport and the club itself are a joke.


Whats next?
Cristiano Ronaldo to quit football to become a milkman?

Report this post »

TomBull says...
10:15am Wed 5 Sep 12

Good luck with that Ben.
You could tell this announcement was imminent because of his demeanour and performance on Saturday. Much like Fieldens last game before going to Wigan....

Report this post »

parader no1 says...
10:30am Wed 5 Sep 12

All the best Ben

Report this post »

Andybulls says...
10:32am Wed 5 Sep 12

Thanks Ben you have been one of the better inports. Would you have gone now if we weren't in the mess we are?

Report this post »

A N Oldman says...
11:01am Wed 5 Sep 12

Bearded clap, what an idiot, you are. The lad is thinking about HIS and HIS families future. Nothing to do with the current situation, this as obviously been well thought over, not to be amongst your family for 10 years. must be hard. I say, good luck to the lad. As to Ronaldo, if you keep up with the football news,you would know he his in dispute with Real Madrid, so who knows, could return home and become a milkman. Now Bearded Clap, answer me this, how may footballers, leave the professional sport and become part time footballers and are found a job by the team they are going to play for. I await your reply, no doubt on a par to your previous posts, daft.

Report this post »

Bone_idle18 says...
11:03am Wed 5 Sep 12

beardedclam wrote:
When a decent player retires from the professional game to become a miner, you realise that the sport and the club itself are a joke.


Whats next?
Cristiano Ronaldo to quit football to become a milkman?
It’s not a joke at all, plenty of ex-Players in Australia get work after retirement/semi-reti
rement from the game. The fireservice is a prime employer of ex-players, and so in Mining, it’s not unusual and the jobs are well paid.
.
Not every player has the chance to get into the media etc, and the pay, even in aus, is not massive so players still need to earn a living. At 32, Ben probably feels this chance is just too good to pass up.

Report this post »

franklyn says...
11:06am Wed 5 Sep 12

10 years in S/L and not playing for the top teams. that shows the dedication shown by a very likeable chap.
Good luck ben , and all the best in the future.

Report this post »

raisemeup says...
11:12am Wed 5 Sep 12

beardedclam wrote:
When a decent player retires from the professional game to become a miner, you realise that the sport and the club itself are a joke.


Whats next?
Cristiano Ronaldo to quit football to become a milkman?
You are a complete fool.
You should be ashamed of that comment.
Using a tribute to a fine player and ambassodor to our sport of Rugby League, as a vehicle to get over your silly and stupid ego trip comment is probably as much as your pea brain can think of.

Report this post »

Steam Pigs says...
11:22am Wed 5 Sep 12

DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT FEED THE TROLL(S)

Do not try to out smart or out comment them or even claim spurious libel infringements (what a load of tosh.....)

JUST IGNORE

Report this post »

Steam Pigs says...
11:23am Wed 5 Sep 12

Good luck, Ben, you had your finest Bulls season this year.

Report this post »

Bex_89 says...
12:22pm Wed 5 Sep 12

All the best for the future.

Report this post »

bully4us says...
12:52pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Ignore any fool who hides behind a username to slag people off and wouldn't have the guts to go onto a rugby pitch.

Do what steam pigs says and totally ignore them - simple!

Report this post »

taurusthebull says...
1:09pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Best wishes Ben,thanks for 10 yrs in SL.You should be proud.Hope your future works out well for you. Newcastle was a great place when I was out there (long time ago) and Kurri Kurri was visited for an afternoon of footy (& refreshments, so cant remember how I got home !!) Enjoy your semi retirement and once again good luck

Report this post »

murphyslaw says...
1:35pm Wed 5 Sep 12

beardedclam wrote:
When a decent player retires from the professional game to become a miner, you realise that the sport and the club itself are a joke.


Whats next?
Cristiano Ronaldo to quit football to become a milkman?
You display a complete lack of understanding of the modern mining industry and make yourself look a complete idiot. It is a very high tech industry especially in Australia and Ben looks to have secured his future admirably. He becoming too old to play at the highest level but has enebled himself to be able to stay within the game on a part time basis I imagine with your obvious lack of intelligence you are probably doing quite well on the dole. Good luck Ben.

Report this post »

bullslad17 says...
3:06pm Wed 5 Sep 12

All the best Ben!

Report this post »

Mumby was the best says...
3:12pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Good Luck Ben you have been a far more influential player in your second spell at the Bulls.

Report this post »

theviking62 says...
3:55pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Good luck, Ben. Thanks for 10 years. But at the end of the day, you can't beat, being with your family. Bon Voyage.

Report this post »

Positivepete says...
7:57pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Thanks for your services Ben. Nothing wrong with working in the mining industry. I did 28 years in it and enjoyed every minute of it. It was a great career. Been to the Hunter Valley coal field on business. If you want a quick intro to coal mining and processing techniques just shout or mention me on @peterramsden Some good wine down there too. Enjoy your career change.

Report this post »

Mumby was the best says...
11:05pm Wed 5 Sep 12

1st term with us poor,2nd as I said good.

Report this post »

Stuart says...
12:55am Thu 6 Sep 12

This bearded clam fellow must be, as you poms are fond of saying an absolute ****..The mining industry in Aus is the No 1 export earner and the highest paid industry in the country.He will earn more than the Bulls could ever pay him and will also get a bit of pocket money playing in the local comp.The lad has to look after his family- he has been a good servant to your club wish him well, Newcastle people will welcome him back with open arms.

Report this post »

taurusthebull says...
1:03pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Stuart wrote:
This bearded clam fellow must be, as you poms are fond of saying an absolute ****..The mining industry in Aus is the No 1 export earner and the highest paid industry in the country.He will earn more than the Bulls could ever pay him and will also get a bit of pocket money playing in the local comp.The lad has to look after his family- he has been a good servant to your club wish him well, Newcastle people will welcome him back with open arms.
Hear hear!

and as positivepete says some GREAT wine in the Hunter valley (could just go a glass of Bin 555 )

Report this post »

click2find

Get Adobe Flash player
About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree