NAMBOUR product and NRL star Ben Ross refuses to concede his rugby league career is over.

The South Sydney front rower has not played a game since round one last year, when he was carried from the field with a horror neck injury during a game with his former club Cronulla.

On Tuesday it appeared he might never take the field for the Rabbitohs, with whom he is signed until October, after it was reported scans had revealed his neck was too brittle to withstand the rigours of the NRL.

However, the 29-year-old former maroon told the Daily yesterday that nothing was set in stone and he was continuing with his comeback.

“I'm still in the rehab stage,” he said from Sydney. “At the moment I'm looking forward to getting back on the park.”

After sitting out all of last season, Ross was thrown a lifeline by Souths owner Russell Crowe, who signed him to a one-year deal.

The story of Ross's most recent setback was revealed when Crowe posted a message on Ross's twitter account.

“Hey Ben, heard the news,” Crowe said. “Tough call. It is a privilege to have you at the club, mate. Stay strong and keep your eyes on the horizon.”

A few hours later, Ross rejected claims he was done, writing on his account: “Retire? Ha ha. Don't they know I never give up!”

Ross has laboured for the past year and a half to get back on the paddock and up until this week was confident of making his debut in the green and red some time before the season halfway mark.

His return has now been pushed back three times and in the next 48 hours Souths is set to release a statement on his playing future.

NRL great Andrew Johns yesterday urged Ross to retire or risk permanent paralysis.

The former Newcastle, NSW and Australian No.7, who had his career cut short by a similar problem in 2007, said Ross had to weigh up his future outside of football.

“You don't muck around with the neck,” Johns told nrl.com.

“I feel sorry for him. He has put a lot of hard work in to get back.

“When you're playing, you're in a little bubble, really, and it's not until you finish your career that you realise how insular you are when you play footy.

“What he has to do now is sit back and make a decision, but if there is even the slightest doubt, he has to finish up.

“It's a hard one but he has had a good career. I wish him all the best.”