Ben Roarty

Career

He played for the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, Huddersfield Giants and the Castleford Tigers as a second-row, loose-forward and as a property That year he was named the club"s rookie of the year. In 1999, Roarty started on the bench in the contentious 1999 NRL Grand Final between Melbourne and Saint George Illawarra Dragons.

Seeking a regular first-grade starting position, Roarty joined the Penrith Panthers in 2002 but he was again primarily used as an interchange player.

After being offered a place at Huddersfield Giants in the European Super League, Penrith granted Roarty a release and he left the Panthers half-way into their 2003 premiership winning season. Since 2007, Roarty has been coach of the Sunbury United Tigers first-grade team in the Victorian Rugby League competition.

In 2009, Ben linked up as a player with the Hay Magpies Rugby League Club in Group 20 in the NSW Country Rugby League. Since 2009 he owns a strawberry farm north of Echuca.

Achievements

• Roarty scored a try in the match and the Storm won the game, 20–18. He also won a reserve grade premiership with Hay, which was their first ever premiership in any grade since joining Group 20 in 2007.

Membership

Roarty was a member of the inaugural Melbourne Storm team and played in their first game on 14 March 1998, winning against Illawarra Steelers, 14-12.