TONIGHT could be a special moment for Salford centre Deon Cross who could line up against his hometown team for the first time – a virtual home for him as he lives in Sutton not far from the Totally Wicked Stadium.

The former Blackbrook Royals junior was in the Saints Scholarship system for two years as a teenager but was cut loose after the under 16s level and returned to the amateur game at Boardmans Lane.

But a large dollop of self-belief and the guiding hand of coach Ant Walker put him on the path to become a Super League player at the age of 25.

Cross, originally from Haydock, took the step up to Super League with the Red Devils this year, joining after two years at Widnes Vikings following earlier spells with Rochdale Hornets and Barrow.

And the big message he sends out from his journey from rejection to the top-flight was to “just keep playing”.

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Cross explains: “I enjoyed two years at Saints but then I got released. I simply was not good enough so went back to Blackbrook playing open age rugby “I thought when I was cut that this can’t be it, there is always something.

“I wanted to keep playing and prove to the club, my coaches, family and to myself that I can make that step up and can do it and it was always in the back of my head.

“Even when your mates were going out on Saturday night drinking, I always thought I could still make it. It was just that self-belief really.

“That is a big one now for lads who do get cut – and they think that is their dreams over.

“I am 25 now and this is my first year in Super League and I have learned the big thing is to keep playing because you never know who is watching.”

Also discarded from that scholarship group was Matt Whitley, who ended up going to Widnes but is now playing at Catalans.

“Matt was my centre when I was on the wing and we have both sort of moved in one – I am centre and he’s back row.

“There were a few others – Dave Hewitt now at Oldham, Ollie Davies at Widnes and a couple more in the Championship,” he said.

Often when players have their dreams shattered by rejection, they can be tempted to pack away their boots and focus on the next stage of their life.

But that was not the route for Cross, who got to play with England Under 18s Community Lions when he returned to the amateur fold.

What stopped Cross joining that list was the encouragement of Blackbrook coach Ant Walker, who was also assisting at League 1 Rochdale after being medically retired from playing.

Cross explained: “Ant rang me one Thursday night and said, ‘Rochdale have got a game on Saturday – do you want to play?’ “I was up for it definitely but it was a pre-season friendly against Warrington Wolves and I thought it would be just their kids team.

“Bryson Goodwin had just come over from South Sydney so I ended him playing opposite him.

“I can’t thank Ant Walker enough for what he has done for me – if he was not the coach at the time I wouldn’t be sitting here at a Super League club.

“The message is always to keep playing. You never know there could be scouts watching at the games.

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“The funny thing is he plays at Bradford now and we played them last year and there was a bit of banter between the pair of us.

“He had a good season last year and at the start of this so credit to him for his resilience to bounce back.”

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Ant Walker

In his journey to the top-flight Cross has drawn comfort from seeing late developers at Saints like Joe Batchelor seize his chance.

“In stepping up to the Super League environment I was encouraged by looking at Joe Batchelor at Saints – he 27 and it has taken him three seasons to get that starting shirt and he’s taken it with both hands. That is what I am doing now – I am taking it week by week.

“If I play I take it with both hands and give it my best performance,” he said.