1990s The following year he was playing first grade in the
New South Wales Rugby League premiership for
Western Suburbs. Ainscough also played 87 games with the
Newcastle Knights from 1992 to 1996. He made one international appearance for
Australia against
New Zealand in the 3rd Test of 1995 Brisbane. In that game Ainscough came on as a replacement and scored a try. Ainscough represented the
New South Wales Rugby League team in the
State of Origin series in 12 games between 1996 and 2001 (three as a replacement). Ainscough joined
St George in 1997 and played on the wing in the
1999 NRL Grand Final loss against the
Melbourne Storm. St. George led 14-nil at half time but were run down by Melbourne. The illegal tackle he made on
Craig Smith resulted in a penalty try contributing to St. George losing the premiership.
2000s On 24 October 2000, Ainscough was awarded the
Australian Sports Medal for his achievements. He played 106 games with
St George or the merged
St George Illawarra Dragons up until 2001 at centre or wing. Ainscough concluded his career in the
Super League with English side the
Wigan Warriors in 2002 when they won the
Challenge Cup. He played in a Wigan Warriors team studded with Australians in
Brett Dallas,
Julian O'Neill,
Adrian Lam,
Craig Smith,
David Furner and coached by
Stuart Raper. Following that season he went close to needing to have his arm amputated following an infection that was found to have been caused after one of
St. Helens centre
Martin Gleeson's teeth was left embedded in Ainscough's arm. ==References==