Hannant at home with the Cowboys

What a difference a year can make.

In 2014, former Test and Maroons prop Ben Hannant had been banished to Ipswich in the Queensland Cup and was being forced to look for a home away from his beloved Brisbane Broncos.

Fast forward to today and the man they call the Polar Bear has not only found a new home at the North Queensland Cowboys, but a resurgence in his career and a premiership ring with his new club.

“It’s been a roller-coaster of a couple of years for me,” he said.

“The club welcomed me with open arms and it’s been a great year.

“I was lucky enough to play all 28 games this year. It’s something special.”

While the majority of his games have been off the bench, Hannant has done much more than just make up the numbers at the Cowboys.

He has averaged 107 metres a game in 2015 and has shown the same energy and force that made him an Origin mainstay for several years.

Hannant has credited the Cowboys high performance unit, headed by club legend Paul Bowman, for giving him his new lease on life.

“I still feel that I have a lot more to give as well,” he said.

“I feel like I did when I was 21.

“The body is in great nick and we’ve got a great coaching staff, they’re giving us every tool we need to succeed up here.”

While he was ecstatic to have claimed the premiership with the Cowboys, it was hard for Hannant to look around the field and see the shattered faces of men who had been his teammates in Brisbane for many years.

“Definitely mixed emotions, I know how hard (they have worked) and how far they have come,” he said.

“They have a fantastic team.

“What Wayne (Bennett) and Justin (Hodges) and the senior players there have done is outstanding.

“My heart goes out to them … they put up a very brave fight.”

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