A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played in the National Rugby League for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers, with whom he won the 2003 NRL Premiership, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Signing with Penrith in 2003, Ross helped to kick the season off to a blistering start after becoming involved in a brawl with Brisbane Broncos captain Gorden Tallis.

The Australian Football League (AFL) CEO, Wayne Jackson, used the incident to criticise the rival code which led to cross-border media exchanges.

In round 8, playing against his previous club, Penrith, Ross damaged his left knee tackling former flat-mate, Joel Clinton, in the first few minutes of the match.

In 2008, Ross was knocked out in Cronulla's season opener against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles but miraculously recovered to play in the team's round two encounter against the Storm in Melbourne.

In 2006, Ross again posed in the nude for the Naked Rugby League 2007–08 charity calendar, with its sales to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia.