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Michael Westlake

BEN SAYS HE’S NOT A SPENT ORIGIN FORCE

BEN Hannant has appealed for Queensland selectors not to forget about him as the Broncos prop looks to resurrect his Origin career.

It was just 18 months ago that Hannant was an integral member of the indomitable Maroons, playing all three games off the bench in Queensland’s seventh successive series triumph in 2012.

But in the time since, Hannant has drifted off the Origin radar. A calf injury on the eve of last year’s series opener saw him rubbed out for Origin I, pushing Nate Myles to prop and opening the door for forwards debutants Josh Papalii and Chris McQueen. They duly closed it shut, wiping out Hannant for the series as he rued giving a sucker an even break.

The challenge now is trying to reclaim his Queensland spurs while playing fewer minutes off the bench at his club side the Broncos. Hannant is a proven 80-minute performer, but has been relegated to an interchange role behind starting Brisbane bookends Josh McGuire and Corey Parker.

The Maroons side for game one will be named next month and Hannant hopes his experience as a veteran of 12 Origin matches will be considered at the selection table.

“I’d love to play for Queensland again,” said Hannant, who featured in five consective series wins between 2008-12.

“Every time you put on that Maroon jumper is special and I think I’ve still got a lot more to offer at representative level.

“I’ve been part of Queensland’s success and it’s been an awesome ride, I really enjoy the company of the players and the culture under Mal (Meninga, coach).

“If the Maroons pick me, great, but if not, then I’ll accept that and do my best to fight my way back into the team.”

Hannant, who turns 30 in December, faces a testing year on several fronts. His Origin ambitions aside, he remains a free agent for 2015 and is hoping to secure a new deal at the Broncos.

The salary-cap is biting hard at Red Hill. Hannant is one of the club’s highest-paid players, but his future at Brisbane is uncertain as the club moves to retain off-contract co-captains Justin Hodges and Corey Parker.

Last year, Hannant was linked with a move to the Titans, but the former Test front-rower is hopeful he can finish his career at the Broncos.

“I’m 29, so I’ll take a five-year deal,” Hannant said with a wry grin.

“I’m off-contract, but at the moment I’m focused on playing good footy and doing my role for the club and we’ll see what happens from there.

“I’d love to stay. This is home for me, I grew up on the Gold Coast, but my wife is happy with the club and the kids are settled in school.

“I’m enjoying my time here, my family is happy so I’ll let my manager take care of things.”

Asked if he would accept less money to remain a Bronco, Hannant said: “That’s something I would have to sit down and work out.

“At the moment, it’s only early and I’m trying to do the best I can for the Broncos. I’m enjoying my time here, we have a great bunch of blokes and hopefully we can build on this start to the year.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be and all I can do is my best for the team.”

Despite being one of the NRL’s most decorated representative forwards, Hannant said he harboured no resentment over his demotion to the Broncos bench.

“That’s the way ‘Hook’ (Broncos coach Anthony Griffin) went and I respect that decision,” he said.

“I’m definitely missing the minutes but whatever my role is in the team I will do it to the best of my ability.

“Everyone who is in the top squad wants to be playing first grade and you always have a lot of blokes pushing to make the top 17.

“I would love to have more game time but when I’m on there I do as much as I can and try to make a difference. Hopefully I can keep pushing and see what happens in the weeks to come.”

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