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Hannant chases a $150,000 pay rise
By James Phelps
From: The Sunday Telegraph
April 03, 2010 11:12PM
Home sick ... Ben Hannant is looking for more money when he heads north. Source: The Daily Telegraph
HOMESICK prop Ben Hannant told the Bulldogs his decision to ask for a release was not motivated by money - but he is asking for a $150,000-a-year pay rise to return to Queensland.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that the Queensland and Australia front-rower shopped himself to both the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans for $450,000 a season after he told the Bulldogs he wanted out of his $300,000-a-year deal because his family wanted to return home.
The Titans last week pulled out of negotiations with Hannant for 2011 after learning of his asking price.
"If I was a betting man I would say he will be staying here for the rest of the year," Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
"We are still prepared to give him a release if he can find a deal, but it is looking unlikely. We are open to letting him negotiate now for 2012.
"From what I understand, he still wants a release but he may not be able to get a deal this year."
The Sunday Telegraph has also discovered that Hannant asked for a bonus for making the Australian team just months before fronting Greenberg and asking for a release.
"He asked the club if he had a rep bonus in his contract," a Bulldogs source said.
"But he did the deal himself without a manager and did not have a clause inserted. The Bulldogs told him they paid him overs when they signed him in anticipation of him becoming an Australian player."
Hannant was forced to front his team-mates after the Bulldogs went down to St George Illawarra two weeks ago, with some players blaming him for destabilising the team before the match.
He spoke to each player after that match and told them he was at the club for the moment and would continue to "put in".
The Bulldogs suspect that Hannant's "homesickness" may have been fuelled by a fellow Queenslander with whom he played on last year's Four Nations tour.
It is understood the player told Hannant he was being underpaid by the Bulldogs and said he should return to Queensland where he could earn more money.
After returning from the tour, Hannant, who has never had a manager, signed powerful player agent George Mimis to help broker a deal.
Mimis last night refused to comment on Hannant's asking price.
"His business is his business," Mimis said. "His worth will be determined by the market. I think there are a number of clubs with props paid over $400,000 a year. But I won't be saying what he is seeking at this stage because it is confidential."
Mimis said he would continue negotiations with the Gold Coast Titans tomorrow, with chief executive Michael Searle last week caught up in the club's salary-cap investigation.
"I haven't spoken to the Titans this week," Mimis said.
"I am guessing Searle is pretty busy. We are reviewing the situation at the moment. We would like to get him closer to home, but that is ongoing."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-150000-pay-rise/story-e6frexnr-1225849246626
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