NO HALF MEASURES Cowboy vows to fight for No.7 spot

IN his 107-game career, nothing has come easy for Ben Hampton.

The Mareeba product, who has been the Cowboys’ Mr Fix-it since arriving at the club in 2017, has had to work for everything he has got.

He was never the most gifted player in his group. He was never the fastest, the biggest or the strongest. But he always worked the hardest.

It is that mentality which is fuelling the 29-year-old’s fight to keep hold of the Cowboys’ halfback jersey.

It is Hampton’s firstchoice position, but one he has rarely played. Sunday’s win over the Bulldogs was only his third game wearing the No.7 for the Cowboys, all of those coming under new coach Todd Payten.

“I have been looking for an opportunity like this for a while now. I am always looking to do what the coaches and the team need me to do. I have always been that type of player,” he said.

“But to be able to train and play in the halves, where I want to be, I am really thankful to get that opportunity from the coaching staff at this club and I am going to do all I can to stay there and hold on to that spot.

“(Scott Drinkwater and I) are getting better, we are getting more confident with each other and we are learning how each other likes to play.

“I have said it a few times about combinations, you just have to work, work, work.

“Look at the combinations at this club in the past, they just worked together hard and knew each other’s game inside and out. That is what we are trying to build and create.”

Even the looming proposition of the club signing a big-name, big-dollar halfback has not deterred Hampton’s fight. Instead, it has fuelled him.

He might not read the papers or listen to the radio, but even Hampton has heard the talk linking the Cowboys with big-dollar plays for South Sydney champion Adam Reynolds.

While he would welcome a player of Reynolds’ experience to the club, the halfback wants to use his time steering the side to prove they don’t need to look outside the four walls.

“It does motivate me a lot, I am going to do all I can to get the club to look at me,” Hampton said.

“I love this club and I would do anything to stay here. I am going to fight for this position and fight for a contract. It has never come easy so I am going to keep working hard and play hard.

“I would (welcome Reynolds here). He is a great play