Coach lauds benefits of having big Ben around
BEN Hannant is showing the way for Burleigh’s next wave of rugby league stars as he prepares for his Intrust Super Cup return from injury tomorrow.
A hamstring complaint restricted the former Queensland and Australia prop to only six minutes in Round 2 in his first game since retiring from NRL footy.
The 33-year-old cut short his professional career with the Cowboys in November, 2016, due to a knee injury and relocated back to the Gold Coast to accept a radio job with Sea FM.
However, with the condition of his knee improving, Hannant has laced the boots back on and has been training the house down at Pizzey Park.
“I don’t think the fire has left him, I just think having the year off he has got real itchy feet and just wants to enjoy playing footy again,” said Bears ISC coach Jimmy Lenihan.
Hannant will come off the bench for Burleigh against Wynnum Manly in a welcome injection of experience to a side that has lost key players Jamal Fogarty, Kurtis Rowe, Dallas Wells and Henare Wells to injury.
A critic might accuse of Hannant of taking the spot of a hungry up-and-comer dreaming of a crack at the NRL but Lenihan declared the likes of him and fellow veteran frontrower Matt White are pivotal to moulding their young guns.
“They impart a lot of wisdom and understanding,” he said. “Everyone sees an hour and a half game on a weekend but there is probably upwards of 10 hours a week that they are doing outside of that towards the other group that is sort of really instrumental.”
The ladder-leading Bears kick-off at 1.10pm at Kougari Oval tomorrow.