Three weeks after re-signing with North Queensland, veteran prop Ben Hannant has reportedly been forced to retire due to a knee injury.
The Cowboys couldn’t confirm the Triple M radio report on Wednesday.
The NRL club said they were still waiting on a final medical assessment and had not yet spoken with the 31-year-old Hannant.
“We’re not in a position to say anything,” a Cowboys spokesman said.
Two-time premiership winner Hannant looked set to run out for a 13th season when he re-signed for another year in late October.
North Queensland’s forward depth already looked set to be tested in 2017 after Test prop James Tamou left for Penrith.
Hannant has played 245 NRL games, 12 State of Origins for Queensland and six Tests for Australia.