Hannant - Fuifui the man to fear
* By Christian Nicolussi
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EST 2009
HE IS just one of many props in recent months to come off second best against Fuifui Moimoi. Now Ben Hannant expects the Parramatta cannonball to cause Melbourne all sorts of headaches during Sunday's Grand Final.
The Dally M prop of the year also broke his silence yesterday over the chicken-wing tackle by Eels' rake Matt Keating that failed to result in a suspension.
"Matt came up to me after the game and apologised and said it was an accident. I believe his word and if he says he didn't mean to do it, then I don't think he deserves to miss the Grand Final," said Hannant, as he joined the Australian train-on squad.
"I was upset in the heat of the moment, but I've had time to calm down. Parramatta were the better team on the night, they deserve to be in the Grand Final, just as he (Keating) deserves to be there."
Hannant, whose left elbow is expected to recover in time if he is picked for the Four Nations, said the Eels could easily go all the way, but only if Moimoi played a lead role.
Moimoi and Hannant slammed into each other on several occasions in the opening half of Friday's final - the opening shoulder charge between the pair was one of the heaviest of the season - before Parramatta's cult hero prevailed.
Hannant said Moimoi had no "hit zone" and was tough to stop.
"You're always hitting his elbows or knees," Hannant said. "He's got great leg speed and power.
"I'm actually really enjoying watching him play and enjoyed playing against him.
"He'll cause Melbourne headaches, he's matured as a player and doesn't go missing at all.
"When he gets hit he gets up and runs harder again - he kept bouncing back and coming harder. He's in career-best form, that's for sure."
Hannant said the Eels' ability to absorb the Dogs' early pressure was remarkable, and it was Moimoi's 30m burst that started the sweeping play which saw Daniel Mortimer slide over for the matchwinner.
prop Justin Poore, who will join the Eels next season, came face to face with Moimoi twice in the past month and was impressed.
"Fuifui is a quality player, he's showing everybody he's a force to be reckoned with and he's going in hard. He's just playing with confidence, and if you've got confidence you always play well," Poore said.
).
