Newcastle Knights cult hero Nathan Ross has been forced to retire with on going complications after groin surgery last year.

A beloved member of the Newcastle community, Ross played 60 games for the Knights and was once famously told by Wayne Bennett he would never make it in the NRL.

“He’s been a fantastic ambassador for this club,” Knights CEO Phil Gardner said.

“It’s a great pity that after fighting so hard to get to where he has, he has ended up not being able to play the game that he loves. His is a great story of fighting his way through the local ranks and being told he wouldn’t make it before proving the doubters wrong.”