Ben Hunt’s return will see Michael Maguire unleash his playmaking formula
Ben Hunt opens up in his first interview since being cleared to return from a two-month hamstring battle covering his injury frustrations, premiership aspirations and role in the Broncos fab-four spine rotation.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ben Hunt is back and ready to be a title-winning hooker as Broncos coach Michael Maguire unleashes the star-studded ‘Super Spine’ to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.
Maguire will finally unveil his playmaking ‘Dream Team’ on Sunday.
Hunt, Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds will combine in the spine for the first time this season in Brisbane’s derby clash against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.
It’s been 18 frustrating rounds for Maguire, who has had to wait more than four months to road test his Big Four playmaking formula due to a series of injuries and suspension.
Now, with Brisbane surging to the top four and eyeing a fifth consecutive win, Hunt is back from a hamstring injury and says Maguire’s masterplan can deliver the Broncos’ first title since 2006.
“We’ve definitely got the spine to go all the way,” said Hunt in his first interview since being cleared to return from his frustrating two-month hamstring battle.
CONNECT FOUR
Fullback Walsh, five-eighth Mam and halfback Reynolds were a lethal triumvirate in Brisbane’s charge to the 2023 grand final.
They fell four agonising minutes short of winning the premiership, but fast forward to Sunday and Hunt will start at hooker for the first time this season, the marquee recruit hoping to be the final piece in Brisbane’s premiership puzzle.
“It’s come a bit later than we thought but it’s good that we’re finally all getting the crack together as a spine,” Hunt said.
“It takes a lot more obviously than a spine to win a comp, a lot of things have to go your way, but I believe we’ve got the talent there that can do it.
“It’s something I’m excited about.
“Coming from the Dragons, it’s like having these shiny new toys in the backline to play with.
“If you throw Reece in at the back, I’ll have him, Ezra and ‘Reyno’ calling the ball either side of the ruck and I’m going to have to make the right decision.
“So that’s probably going to be my biggest part of the job – making the right decisions with where the ball goes.”
MADGE’S MISSION
When Maguire and chief executive Dave Donaghy flew to Sydney before Christmas last year to meet with Hunt after he severed ties with the Dragons, the Broncos coach came armed with a plan.
He laid bare his title blueprint to Hunt.
Initially, the former Dragons skipper would be required at five-eighth if Mam was suspended by the NRL for an off-field car crash drama – he indeed copped nine weeks – but in a perfect world, Maguire saw Hunt at the ruck.
The coach had vivid memories of Hunt’s heroics at hooker in the 2022 State of Origin series, when he streaked away to win the Suncorp decider, and Maguire believed he could ignite Brisbane’s offence.
Now Maguire’s Red Hill utopia has arrived. He was so determined to deploy his Big Four he rushed Hunt straight into the No.9 jumper after being cleared by Broncos medicos.
“I spoke to ‘Hunty’ when I first sat down with him coming to the club,” Maguire said.
“It was always the plan to have Hunty at hooker.
“Billy (Walters) and ‘Paixy’ (Cory Paix) have done a great job, but Hunty has performed at hooker at the highest levels of our game for Queensland and Australia.
“Hooker is such an important position. Control is important. Your nine guides the team as to where you go and how you move around the park.
“Hunty has great experience in the role and the feel he has for the game will be crucial for us, but it’s about doing the job ... it’s a new ball game now.”
TITANIC TRUTH
For two years during his ongoing contract spat with the Dragons, it seemed a fait accompli that Hunt would end up at the Titans.
When he and wife Bridget bought a $2.7 million property last year on the far north coast of NSW, it only fuelled speculation the Dragons skipper was on his way to the Gold Coast.
But as he prepares to face the Titans at Cbus, Hunt set the record straight on rumours of a Glitter Strip move, insisting he never met with Gold Coast coach Des Hasler and only had eyes for a Broncos homecoming.
“Mate, I was not close at all to going to the Titans,” Hunt said.
“It was probably more of a bit of a pipedream.
“All that talk (of signing with the Titans) was only wishful thinking.
“There was so much speculation and noise. I basically wanted to come back to Queensland and they (Gold Coast were one of the clubs that was up here).
“Once everything was finalised with the Dragons, I definitely weighed up all my options, but my heart was definitely favouring Brisbane, that’s for sure.”
THE SETBACK
Hunt broke down against South Sydney in round 10 and was originally expected to miss only four weeks. But his return was complicated by a separate tendon issue which had Hunt appealing for Broncos doctors to give him the green light.
“It was really frustrating. I didn’t enjoy my time out at all,” Hunt said.
“The hardest thing was sitting on the sidelines seeing us lose game after game. I couldn’t contribute and I knew what I was watching wasn’t the team we really are.
“I originally tore the hammy right in the middle, but then I had an issue with a tendon which they take out to use when you snap your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
“I partially tore that tendon, so they got a needle and, using ultrasound, they hammered into it with the needle to completely break the tendon and fray it apart,
“Once that was done, the pain went away almost instantly, so then it was about getting more strength back in my hammy and getting it going again.
“If I’m not 100 per cent, I’m just under. My hamstring takes a little bit of extra time to warm up but once I’m going it’s unreal.”
CLOUD NINE
No-one at the Broncos was expecting Adam Reynolds to play on in 2026.
Hunt was signed as extra halfback insurance if Reynolds retired this season, but the 35-year-old has no issue with the skipper soldiering on and is happy to finish his Broncos career at hooker.
“I’m definitely happy Reyno is going on,” Hunt said.
“I think it’s a bit of a surprise to everyone including Reyno himself.
“I remember talking to him when I first came up and his conversations with me were that this would be his last year.
“So to get a few months down the road, he’s changed his mind pretty quick. He’s obviously feeling good about himself and he’s keen to go again.
“In my mind, if this is the spine we’re going to have for the next two years, yep, I’m more than happy. I can’t be complaining about things.
“You don’t wish any injuries on anyone, but if there is, I can fill in at six or seven, but it’s a pretty exciting time to be playing at nine.”
UNDER THREAT
‘Dozer’ is not taking the No.9 jumper for granted. He knows Cory Paix and Billy Walters forged a potent hooking union in piloting the Broncos to four consecutive wins.
Maguire has warned no-one is a selection untouchable, putting pressure on Hunt to fire against the Titans and stave off Paix, Walters and rising star Blake Mozer in the club’s most hotly-contested spot.
“I’ve got to hit the ground running,” he said.
“I’ve got to put my foot on the throttle because both those boys (Paix and Walters) are playing fantastic footy. ‘Paixy’ was starting the game extremely well and he probably doesn’t like what’s happened.
“Bill has been exceptional off the bench and it’s a role that seems to really suit him.
“The conversation right from the get-go with Madge was that I could come in and contribute at nine and we could build one of the best spines in the game.
“I’m definitely ready for this role at hooker. I’m kind of treating it like I’m playing Origin.
“Ezra’s in red-hot form, Reyno is one of the best halves in the game and then we’ve got Reece at the back who can do it all, so I don’t have to do anything crazy.
“If I do my job, like I used to do in Origin at hooker, then the guys will take care of the rest.”
FINAL FRONTIER
Hunt’s resume is truly remarkable. He is into his 17th season of first grade, is two games shy of 200 for the Broncos and will chalk up his 345th NRL match against the Titans on Sunday.
But with Hunt turning 36 next March and facing what could be his retirement year in 2026, time is running out. He has won Origin series and a World Cup for Australia.
A Broncos premiership is the last box to tick.
Hunt is mindful Father Time can haunt NRL stars in their mid-30s, but he is determined not to be a passenger at Red Hill in pursuit of a premiership.
“It’s more that during the week that it gets harder,” he said.
“You spend the whole week getting your body right to go again on the weekend, you just start to feel good, and then you have to play a game again.
“It’s more the recovery side of things that’s important for me, but I’m still enjoying the footy as much as I ever have. I’m still hungry to get out there and win.
“The passion hasn’t waned at all. I’m as driven now as much as I was when I first started, that goal of winning a Broncos premiership is keeping the fire burning.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Ben Hunt’s return will see Michael Maguire unleash his playmaking formula
‘Scratching my head’: Daley opens up on shock Origin loss
Almost a week after NSW’s shock defeat in the State of Origin decider, Laurie Daley has addressed the Blues series defeat and what went wrong.
Cleary call stuns as NRL world put on notice
The Panthers were missing several stars on Sunday and even started Nathan Cleary on the bench but by full time everyone was saying the same thing.