Former Australian and Queensland prop Ben Hannant has signed with Burleigh Bears and is being tipped to make a surprise Intrust Super Cup appearance against Redcliffe at Pizzey Park at 4pm.
Hannant’s contract was registered on Friday at Queensland Rugby League head offices.
The ex Kangaroos and Maroons wrecking ball played his junior football for Burleigh and Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.
He was said to have been courted by several Intrust Super Cup clubs before settling on the Bears.
Over the course of his career, Hannant played in two NRL premiership sides with the Brisbane Broncos (2006) and North Queensland Cowboys (2015) and represented Queensland 12 times and Australia six times.
In total he played just shy of 250 first grade games with the Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, the Broncos and Cowboys.
The local junior will provide welcome back-up for the Bears, after they lost prop and fellow NRL veteran Matt White to a two-week suspension.
White submitted an early plea to a charge of making dangerous contact with the head or neck from the Bears’ round one 34-22 win over 2017 grand finalists Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Redcliffe is currently in the lower half of the ladder after a dramatic last-minute 15-16 loss to South Logan Magpies at Dolphin Stadium.
A fierce and historic rivalry exists between the Bears and Dolphins, who have contested three grand finals against each since the Intrust Super Cup began in 1996.
The Dolphins have the most wins of any Intrust Super Cup club with 327, while the Bears are third all-time with 266 wins.
Hannant has not played since September 23, 2016 when North Queensland was beaten by eventual premier Cronulla in the NRL preliminary final.
