Veteran prop Ben Hannant has agreed to terms with the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and will line up for a third season with the club in 2017.
Hannant, 31, joined the Cowboys in 2015, and was a member of the premiership-winning team from that year as the Cowboys defeated the Brisbane Broncos 17-16 to win an inaugural National Rugby League title for the club.
To date, the Gold Coast product has played 52 games for the Cowboys over two seasons, largely coming off the interchange bench in coach Paul Green’s forward rotation.
In announcing Hannant’s re-signing for the 2017 season, Cowboys General Manager – Football Peter Parr said the club had retained a proven NRL performer who had established himself over a long and successful rugby league career.
“Ben’s contribution to this team over the past two seasons can never be undervalued,” Parr said.
“In his time here, he has shown himself to be a consistent performer, he’s professional, and his experience from more than a decade playing professional rugby league at the highest level is something he has willingly passed on to our emerging forwards.”
Hannant – alongside fellow props Matt Scott and Scott Bolton – has been the cornerstone of the Cowboys’ front row over the past two seasons.
Entering his 13th NRL campaign and with 245 games under his belt, Hannant is also a former Queensland State of Origin and Australian representative, having played 12 games for the Maroons and six Tests for the Kangaroos.
The re-signing continues the Cowboys’ strong retention policy with a number of the 2015 premiership team entering into new deals for the 2017 season and beyond, including State of Origin and Australian centre Justin O’Neill; 2016 Most Improved Cowboy Ethan Lowe; outside backs Antonio Winterstein and Kane Linnett; and fullback Lachlan Coote.
Hannant will return to pre-season training with his teammates later this month.
