Jamie Ainscough

Wests junior, a 1989 Australian schoolboy rep from Elderslie High School, joined the Knights after two seasons with the Magpies in 1992. After wholesale Super League defections in 1995, Ainscough was a late choice as a reserve back in Australia’s Third Test team despite not having played at State of Origin level that year. Ainscough scored a try in Australia’s 46-10 thrashing of NZ but missed out on selection in the World Cup squad at the end of the year. An aggressive, spoiling style of player with a deceptive turn of pace, he was on the interchange bench in all three State of Origin matches in 1996 but Newcastle showed little interest in retaining him at the end of the season and he joined St George. While Ainscough again represented NSW in 1997, his former club won the split ARL premiership. The ensuing seasons, which culminated in his snaring a centre spot in the combined St George I’warra team in 1999, saw him recapture glimpses of the form that initially earned him Test selection. However, playing on the wing in the 1999 grand final, Ainscough’s head-high tackle of Craig Smith as the Melbourne winger attempted to score a late try saw Melbourne awarded a rare penalty try – and win the premiership. Ainscough took the loss in his stride, rejecting an offer to go to Auckland and playing his usually sound, aggressive style of football with the Dragons until injury sidelined him midway through the 2000 season. Representing NSW in both 2000-01, he moved to England at the end of the 2001 season to play for Wigan.