Test prop Ben Hannant has urged Canterbury to re-sign his front row partner at the NRL club, Michael Hodgson.

Hodgson, who arrived unheralded at the Bulldogs last year, emerged as a major figure in the Belmore club's astonishing revival from wooden-spooners to second place on the ladder.

The 30-year-old, who will enter his 13th season having previously played for Parramatta, Canberra and the Gold Coast, is off-contract at the end of 2010.

"In the media they're saying you're getting too old, you've got to go but look at Petero (Civoniceva), look at Pricey (Steve Price), they're 35, 36 and they're playing their best football now and it doesn't look like they're slowing down," Hannant told AAP on Tuesday.

"So I don't think we can put an age limit on it.

"Hodgo's been fantastic and consistent for us all year, I think you've got to just keep letting him play because he's fantastic for the club and you can't put a price on experience and the knowledge that he passes on to the young people.

"I love packing in with him and knowing that I've got someone next to me that's going to be consistent and put his body on the line for the team every week.

"It's very rare to be able to have someone like that, to be able to do it consistently in the front row."

Hodgson averaged 98m and 21.5 tackles per game for the Bulldogs in 2009.

Meanwhile, Hannant has backed new signing Dene Halatau to amply fill the shoes of Greg Eastwood, who has departed for the English Super League.

New Zealand international Halatau has linked with Canterbury after seven years at the Wests Tigers and is set to become part of the Dogs' back row.

"He's plenty big enough, he's very strong, powerful, quick," Hannant said at the Bulldogs' Fetch-a-Friend membership bus ride.

"He's one guy I've been very, very impressed with, I can't wait to play with him because I think he's going to make a very big impact on our side.

"He's got explosive speed, he doesn't mind putting his body on the line and that's what you need out of good football players.

"He's got a good head on him and if you've got 17 players like that you go a long way of being a very successful side."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP