Hampton fights for a way back to the NRL
PLAYING for the Northern Pride is a “special” experience for Ben Hampton but the Cowboys utility’s goal is to fight his way back into Todd Payten’s preferred 17.
Hampton is on the comeback trail after missing 16 weeks of the preseason with a hamstring injury.
That delayed start robbed him of a good fitness base, and put the Mareeba junior on the back foot as he sought a spot in Payten’s NRL squad.
Back with the Pride for two games so far this Hostplus Cup season, Hampton is using each game with Ty Williams’ Cairns club as a way to keep building towards an eventual return.
He’s been named among Payten’s reserves, and travelled to Canberra two weeks ago as 18th man, but with the Cowboys sitting fifth and shooting for three straight wins when they travel to Darwin to face Parramatta on Saturday, Hampton knows it’s going to be tough to break back into the side.
It’s why there is an expectation that, for the next month, Hampton will be a regular sight in the Pride lineup, but that prospect doesn’t faze the 30-year-old.
“While the boys are going well you don’t change a winning team,” Hampton said.
“The boys are playing some good footy at times, and it can be hard to break into that side.
“I love coming back to the Pride. I’ve always said it whenever I speak to people.
“Going back to the Pride and playing with some boys I’ve known for years in an area I grew up in, there’s not much better than that.
“Not many people can do that. So going back there and playing for the Pride is something
boys I’ve Playing with some in an area known for years not I grew up in, there’s that much better than BEN HAMPTON
special for me. It’s not the goal, but it’s good to be able to go back there.”
His mission, in Pride colours, is to not only build his fitness, but work on three key areas of his game.
“Communication, making my tackles and kicking – they’re the three main things I want to focus on,” he said.
“Going back to QCup, they’re three things that can help the Pride. Bringing a bit of experience, and I suppose defending well and kicking well will only help our Pride side.
“They’re the three things I’ll concentrate on for the next month of footy.
“(But) at the moment it’s probably more getting match fitness. Because I missed the whole preseason, I missed out on getting that good base you get from a good preseason.
“You want to defend well and kick well as a half. When you’re playing in the halves, they’re the two things you always try to do well.
“I didn’t kick well in the first game I was back but better in the second. That was just all about timing, getting back to playing, and that will get better for me.
“That first month back playing footy, coaches wanted me to build my fitness back up, my match fitness, and tick off those small things – kick well, defend well, and make sure I’m trying to control the game.”
The Pride have the bye this week, but are scheduled to travel to Rockhampton on May 7 to face the high-flying CQ Capras (5th place) at Browne Park.