Hipwood, Cox sign up again for Lions

ERIC Hipwood will play for Brisbane for the next three years after he signed a contract extension this week, but he won’t know until this morning if he can line up against the Kangaroos today.

The Lions had a big week off the field, extending Hipwood’s existing contract by another year to lock him away until the end of 2020.

Exciting teenager Cedric Cox became the second signing when he extended his standard two-year draftee contract by a further two years, and he will also be at the Gabba until the end of 2020.

Hipwood said the contract decision was an easy one to make.

“It is exciting. It is a good place to be,’’ he said.

“Even though we are on the bottom of the ladder we are all very optimistic and excited for the future and I want to be a part of that.’’

Cox’s sentiments were the same. For him the way the Lions created a home away from his true home in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia played a major part. “It was easy to stay’’ he said. “It’s exciting. I just love this place, love the club and the people around it. It’s the reason why I signed.

“I know it’s not a home environment for me, but it takes people around it to make it feel like home and the players, the staff, they’re really close mates to me.

“I think they think the same thing as well. It will be great to spend a few more years with the boys.”