BEN Hannant admits he has barely slept in the past week. But amid the pain of his shock axing from the Broncos, Hannant insists he can work with coach Anthony Griffin and is determined to finish his decorated NRL career at Red Hill. Speaking for the first time since being dumped to the Ipswich Jets, Hannant blasted suggestions he is selfish and pledged to give “everything” if recalled to the Broncos line-up. “What’s done is done. I’m a team player. I have to fight my way back now,” Hannant said last night. Just 24 hours after Brisbane’s 27-14 loss to the Cowboys on Friday night, Hannant faced the ignominy of turning out for the Jets against Central Capras in the Intrust Super Cup. North Queensland v Brisbane Broncos: Match report 1:58Play
Thurston recovered from a first-half head injury to inspire the Cowboys to a 13-point win over the Broncos in Townsville on Friday night.Before a small army of relatives and friends at North Ipswich Reserve, Hannant was impressive, playing 75 minutes in Ipswich’s 34-14 defeat of the Capras. He even managed a chip-and-chase from a kick restart in the final minute, acting on skylarking instructions from Jets co-coaches Ben and Shane Walker. For Hannant, the victory was panacea to the pain of the toughest time of his 10-year career, which began on Tuesday when he was dropped by Griffin for the Cowboys clash. Griffin has declined to disclose the reasons for his axing but The Sunday Mail can reveal Hannant has been told he paid the price for lacking aggression. Off-contract at season’s end, Hannant’s career at the Broncos appears to have flatlined, but the former Test and Origin prop is refusing to give up hope. “The thing I want to make clear is I love the Broncos,” he said. “That is the club I wanted to play for as a kid and I want to continue to be there, but I know I’m off-contract and we’ll see what happens. Ben Hannant in his debut for the pink and green of the Ipswich Jets,Ben Hannant in his debut for the pink and green of the Ipswich Jets, Source: News Corp Australia“I would love to finish up at the Broncos. I want to stay. I’m trying not to worry about my future because that would affect my footy and you lose sleep when you think of that stuff. “I hope I get picked this week (for the Broncos). “I will give him (Griffin) 100 per cent. I may not be the fastest forward or the most skilful but I will go out and do my best.” Wearing jumper No.21, Hannant was typically tireless, running with purpose to press his claims for an NRL recall for Friday night’s derby against the Titans at Suncorp Stadium. Such has been the outrage surrounding Griffin’s controversial call, even Cowboys stars Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott expressed shock at Hannant’s demotion. Hannant’s return to Broncos training tomorrow under Griffin is sure to create some tense moments, but the out-of-favour bookend insists he is not bitter. “I don’t know where I stand, I just have to give everything I’ve got every week,” he said. North Queensland Cowboys press conference 7:20Play
captain Matt Scott believes his side’s consistency and completion rate was the key to victory over the Broncos on Friday night.“What is meant to be will be. It’s been a hard week on me emotionally, but it’s out of my control what happens now. “I’ve had a ball at Ipswich. It was a different brand of football, I had a free rein to pass and the Walker boys even gave me a message to chip kick in the final minutes. “I had some nerves. A lot of things have been said about me this week, so it gave me tingles to have my family here, I had friends drive from Condamine to come and watch me. “It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. I’m glad this game is over, I’ll go back to training Monday, train my guts out and hopefully things change for me.” In the past 48 hours, Hannant has been accused of being selfish and even breaching the Broncos’ ethical standards. One newspaper report yesterday claimed he had fallen out with Griffin because he had actively encouraged three young players not to stay at the Broncos. “That is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. It’s never happened,” he said. “People are entitled to their opinions about me. I will say this: I always try my best. I’m a team player. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Broncos jersey or a Jets jersey. “If I’m honest, I could say I’m probably not your typical football player. I don’t say that to defend myself. But you could say I put my family first. The people who know me know what I’m like. Brisbane Broncos press conference 4:50Play
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin admits his side never looked in control as they slumped to defeat against the Cowboys in Townsville.“I’m a professional footballer and that means I give 100 per cent every time. When it’s finished, I will go home to my family and support my wife and kids.” Hannant watched Brisbane’s loss to the Cowboys from his living room and says he derived no joy from the defeat. This week, he hopes to help the Broncos atone by running out against the Titans. “I would have loved to have been there on Friday night but the boys dug deep and gave themselves a chance to win the game,” he said. “If I’m back great, if not … I will play for the Jets. “People have to remember football is not the be-all and end-all. It can play with your head and your emotions … but my family will always come first.”