Name Ben Hampton Career start 2013 Weight 81 kg | Height 1.79 m Role Rugby league Five-eighth | |
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Ben Hampton (born 29 February 1992) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League. He plays at five-eighth, halfback and fullback. Hampton previously played for the Melbourne Storm in 2013-2016.
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Early life
Born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Hampton grew up in Temora, attending Temora West Public School until year 6 and playing junior rugby league for the Temora Dragons. When his family moved to Mareeba in North Queensland, he attended Mareeba State High School and played his junior football for the Mareeba Gladiators. In 2008, while playing for the Northern Marlins representative side, Hampton represented the Queensland under-16 rugby league team. A scholarship holder with the Melbourne Storm, Hampton joined their SG Ball Cup side in 2010. Later that year he made his debut for their NYC side and was chosen for the Queensland under-18 rugby league team. In 2012, Hampton was promoted to Melbourne's full-time squad and selected to captain the Queensland under-20 rugby league team in the inaugural U20 State of Origin match. In October 2012, Hampton played fullback for the Junior Kangaroos in their 48-16 win over the Junior Kiwis.
2013
Hampton made his NRL debut in round 15 against the Gold Coast Titans, where he scored the Storm's two tries, made an impressive try saving tackle on Ashley Harrison and took on the kicking duties after senior playmaker Gareth Widdop was stretchered from the field. He played only one further first-grade match in 2013, mostly playing for Melbourne's feeder teams in the NSW and QLD Cups, the Cronulla Sharks and Easts Tigers.
2014
Due to the departures of Widdop and Brett Finch, Hampton started the season as Melbourne's starting five-eighth, until Round 16 when he was dropped for Ben Roberts. He didn’t play in first grade for the rest of the year. On 30 July, Hampton re-signed with the Storm keeping him with the club to the end of the 2016 season. Hampton finished the year with 11 matches and 2 tries.
2015
Hampton played for the Storm in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines. He finished off the season with 3 matches and 1 try for the Storm, playing most the year for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup.
2016
Hampton was again named in the Storm's Nines squad. On 2 October, in the 2016 NRL Grand Final match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Hampton played off the interchange bench in the Storm’s 14-12 loss. Hampton finished the 2016 NRL season with 1 try from 20 matches. On 27 October, the North Queensland Cowboys signed Hampton to a three-year deal, starting in 2017.
2017
In February, Hampton was named in the Cowboys Nines squad. In Round 1, Hampton made his club debut for the Cowboys against the Canberra Raiders, where he came off the interchange bench in the 20-16 Golden point extra time win at 1300SMILES Stadium.