London Broncos have added a huge chunk of experience to their new-look squad by tempting veteran Australian prop Ben Ross out of retirement.
The 33-year-old, who has made six State of Origin appearances for Queensland, is the Broncos' eighth newcomer for 2014 and by far their most seasoned.
Ross played for St George Illawarra, Penrith - with whom he won the 2003 NRL premiership - and South Sydney before finishing his NRL career in 2013 with Cronulla.
"He retired but the word going around Australia was that he didn't really want to," said Broncos head coach Tony Rea.
"We made a phone call and it was the easiest deal we've ever done. The guy was so hungry to keep playing.
"If someone has retired and you've got to drag them out, that usually means a week of talking to the wife and kids but this was done in an hour.
"This was a bloke who wanted to play. He's a meat and potatoes prop who will drive you forward and gets all his jobs done."
Ross is the Londoners' fifth signing, joining Melbourne winger Denny Solomona, Tonga fullback Nesiasi Mataitonga, former St Helens hooker Scott Moore and Hull KR forward George Griffin at Barnet.
The Broncos have also secured the loan services of Leeds youngsters James Duckworth, Thomas Minns and Alex Foster, who join the 12 players left from 2013 and take the Broncos' current squad up to 20 so far.
Solomona, who came through Melbourne's youth system, was released from his contract with the Storm to enable him to make the move to Super League.
"Denny is a talented individual who has been really brave in his decision to come here," Rea said.
"He's been sitting behind Billy Slater as his understudy at Melbourne but has taken a decision to come here. This is a way of putting himself out on his own stage.
"He had a contract at Melbourne, which he left to join us, and had the full support of Melbourne and the Broncos to do that."
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