The reason Queensland have to stick with Ben Hunt for State of Origin III

HE came under heavy criticism after the Origin II disaster, but Queensland selectors should stick by Ben Hunt for the dead rubber writes GORDEN TALLIS.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 24: Ben Hunt of the Maroons looks dejected at full-time during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

QUEENSLAND selectors should stick with Ben Hunt for Origin III.

One brain explosion should not spell the end of his career in the Maroons No. 7 jersey.

Hunt has copped the majority of criticism for Queensland’s loss in Game Two, which ultimately led to NSW winning the series.

His decision to grubber midway through a set with 10 minutes left on the clock, and only 12 Blues players on the field, was not an ideal call to make.

But he is still more than deserving of his place in this Origin team.

You only make changes if the blokes you’re bringing in are better, and there’s no one playing much better than Hunt right now.

Look at the top of the NRL ladder. The Dragons are there.

Despite his struggles, Hunt is still Queensland’s best option. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

Some people have suggested Daly Cherry-Evans should come in. But look at where Manly are on the ladder.

Ash Taylor? He could do the good job but we also know the Titans haven’t had a lot of success in the past two years.

We don’t make changes because someone has made one mistake.

Everyone who is criticising Hunt has made mistakes too, or could never do what he does.

Are we going to forget Darren Lockyer’s first Test match? It was awful.

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People also forget the shoes Hunt has been asked to fill, the players who have worn that No. 7 jersey before him.

Do not expect him to be a Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk or Allan Langer, because he’s not. He’s Ben Hunt.

He’s never been a guy who has had the silky skills but he’s a robust runner and plays at you all the time.

Cameron Munster and Hunt are our best six and seven at the moment and we should stick by them.

Hunt was savaged for his performance in Origin II. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

And that goes for the entire team.

Queensland weren’t far away in Game Two.

Sure, we didn’t win but we only have a few little things to fix and don’t forget the names we lost this year — Thurston, Cronk, Cameron Smith, Matt Scott, Matt Gillett.

Speaking from experience, I think there is plenty to gain from giving these guys who are hurting a shot at redemption.

They should learn from their mistakes because they have to.

I was part of the last Queensland side to be beaten 3-0 by NSW. And I get a painful reminder of that every single year.

My attitude straight after we lost the 2000 series in Game Two was a bit like, “oh well, time to focus on club”.

But it was not the right mindset to have because Origin III of that year was the worst performance Queensland has produced in a long, long time.

Queensland still have everything to play for. Picture by Adam Head.

We were embarrassed 56-16.

If I was thinking like that back then, maybe some of the Queensland players today are thinking like that too.

But Origin is all about attitude. No one can think like that.

After we lost that series we made so many changes and 10 debutants came in the next year.

I don’t have too many regrets from my career, but that’s one.

We didn’t prepare the way Queensland needed us to and the way past and future players needed us to prepare. We didn’t respect the jersey.

So, if Kevvie Walters does stick and pick like I hope, here’s my message — Don’t let it come to that.

Don’t make the same mistakes of the 2000 series.

Don’t continue into your career still feeling the way I do now.

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Originally published as The reason Queensland have to stick with Ben Hunt for State of Origin III