Flyer Hampton still finding his wings
THE wing is still foreign territory for Ben Hampton. However, after a 2019 season decimated by injuries and a coronavirus-enforced break from the game, so too is being back on the field.
Throughout his career the 28-yearold has acted as a valuable utility – covering fullback, centre, the halves and now on the Cowboys flank.
In the first two games of the season before the NRL’S postponement, he crossed for a try in each of the matches against the Brisbane Broncos and Canterbury-bankstown Bulldogs.
But getting on the scoresheet is not the mindset he is adopting, he is just focusing on familiarising himself in the position and trying to be consistent.
“It’s still a new position to me, I’ve only played a handful of games there and this will be my third game in 12 months as well,” Hampton said.
“I’m still trying to get back into footy myself after being injured all last year.
“It’s always good scoring a couple of meat pies but I don’t go into a game trying to score or thinking I’m going to.
“I don’t think I’m up to that yet, I’m worried about concentrating on what Greeny (coach Paul Green) wants me to do and what my job is that weekend.”
On the Cowboys return to training, Hampton was impressed by players coming back “in better nick” than before the season’s suspension.
Tomorrow night he will be confronted with a Gold Coast Titans outfit determined to break their drought of losses that has stretched to almost a year.
For the Cowboys he said the focus was on clicking as a unit and using the fresh injection of excitement the club’s recruitment drive has instilled.
“We improved on a few things going into Round 2, and over the last couple of weeks have really ripped in and worked on those combinations.”