Ben Jeffries

Playing career

Early years

Born in Forster, Jeffries grew up in Forster and attended Forster High School, where he represented the Australian Schoolboys in 1998 and was signed by the Newcastle Knights.

St George Illawarra Dragons

In 2000, after two seasons in the Knights' lower grades, Jeffries joined the St George Illawarra Dragons. In Round 4 of the 2001 NRL season, he made his NRL debut in the Dragons 34–6 loss to the New Zealand Warriors, his only appearance for the club.

Wests Tigers

In 2001, Jeffries joined the Wests Tigers halfway through the season, playing nine games. In 2002, he played 18 games for the side, starting 16 at halfback.

Wakefield Trinity

In 2003, Jeffries joined Super League side Wakefield Trinity, playing 27 games in his first season at the club. In 2004, he played 33 games, scoring 24 tries and leading Wakefield to the finals. In 2005, he despite Wakefield's 10th-place finish, Jeffries scored 20 tries in 27 games, finishing as the club's top try scorer. Following his successful 2005 season, he signed a new three-year deal with the club. In 2007, after 143 games for the club, Jeffries joined the Bradford Bulls.

Bradford Bulls

In 2007, Jeffries played 27 games for the Bradford Bulls as they qualified for the finals series. On 11 September 2009, after two seasons with Bradford, he signed a three-year deal to return to Wakefield.

Wakefield Trinity (second stint)

In 2010, Jeffries played 22 games in his return season for Wakefield. On 7 May 2011, after playing five games for the Wakefield, Jeffries re-joined Bradford on an 18-month contract.

Bradford Bulls (second stint)

Jeffries appeared in every game for the rest of the 2011 season after returning to Bradford, starting at five-eighth from Round 14 to Round 27. In 2012, he featured in five consecutive games from Round 4 to Round 8. He missed Round 9 due to injury but returned a week later to play in nine consecutive games from Round 10 to Round 18. He also played in Round 20 and then from Round 23 to Round 26.

On 5 September 2012, he announced his departure from the Bradford Bulls to return to Australia to play part-time for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs. At the time, Jeffries was the only Australian to play 10 consecutive years in the Super League.

Northern Pride

In 2014 Jeffries signed to the Cairns-based Northern Pride Queensland Cup side. He sustained an arm injury in his debut game and did not play again that season.

Coaching career

In 2014, Jeffries worked as an assistant coach for the Newcastle Knights SG Ball Cup side. Later that year, he joined the Northern Pride Queensland Cup side, playing one game, and working as the strength & conditioning and hookers & halves coach for their Cyril Connell Cup and Mal Meninga Cup sides. In 2015, he left the club after playing three trial games, being granted a release.

In 2015, Jeffries began working for the NRL as a Development Manager in Townsville. In 2016, he coached the Townsville women's team and the NQ Marlins under-14 girls side. On 19 October 2016, he became head coach of the Queensland Murri women's team.

In 2017, he joined the North Queensland Cowboys as an assistant coach their under-20 side under head coach Aaron Payne. Later that year, he was an assistant coach for the Queensland women's team.

In 2018, he was the assistant coach for the Townsville Blackhawks and head coach for the QAS women's under-18 squad.

On 20 December 2018, Jeffries was announced as the North Queensland Cowboys Elite Pathways coach, taking over from Aaron Payne.

In 2020, Jeffries coached the Indigenous Women's All Stars. He was again named head coach of the side for 2022 and 2023. In 2022, he coached the PNG Orchids at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

On 24 November 2022, he was announced as the North Queensland Cowboys inaugural NRLW head coach. On 15 December 2023, he was released by the club.

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to the end of the 2012 season

NRL

Super League

References

References

1. "The official Engage Super League web site". Super League.
2. [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Ben_Jeffries.html Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org]
3. [https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Ben-Jeffries/ loverugbyleague]
4. (9 February 2022). "Jeffries appointed as Orchids coach".
5. "SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League". SportingPulse.
6. "Bradford Bulls – Rugby League Championship".
7. "Dragons – Our Proud History – St George and Illawarra Rugby League".
8. "Ben Jeffries Player Profiles Locker Room St George Illawarra Dragons Rugby League".
9. "NRL 2001 – Round 4 – Rugby League Project".
10. "Wests Tigers First Grade Players – Wests Tigers".
11. "Custom Match List – Rugby League Project".
12. (31 October 2002). "Wildcats sign up Aussie duo".
13. (9 February 2003). "Sovatabua puts Castleford out of action".
14. (9 February 2003). "Sovatabua puts Castleford out of action".
15. (22 July 2005). "Jeffries agrees new Wildcats deal".
16. "Jeffries back at Wakefield | York Press".
17. (11 September 2009). "Jeffries makes return to Wildcats".
18. "Jeffries seals return to Bradford". BBC Sport.
19. (4 November 2014). "Riethmuller targeted". The Cairns Post.
20. (3 March 2015). "Northern Pride lose playmaker". The Cairns Post.
21. (17 November 2014). "New twist for NRL journeyman".
22. (19 October 2016). "Queensland Murri Women's squad".
23. (19 January 2017). "Vowles appointed Queensland women's coach".
24. (22 December 2017). "QRL announce 2018 representative staff".
25. (20 December 2018). "Cowboys appoint new Elite Pathways Coach".
26. Keoghan, Sarah. "'Let our voices be heard': Women not consulted over anthem axing". The Sydney Morning Herald.
27. (9 February 2022). "Jeffries appointed as Orchids coach".
28. (24 November 2022). "Cowboys announce women's leadership structure".
29. (15 December 2023). "Club statement: Ben Jeffries".
30. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Ben Jeffries – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project.