Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop says wearing number seven puts added pressure on Ben Hunt

DONNING the number seven in the NRL comes with an unavoidable burden. The key playmaker’s performance isn’t measured in try-assists or repeat sets, it comes down to a win or a loss.

DONNING the number seven in the NRL comes with an unavoidable burden.

The halfback is always the public’s first point of blame after a defeat. The key playmaker’s performance isn’t measured in try-assists or repeat sets, it comes down to a win or a loss.

Impressive individual performances by a halfback in a losing team often go unnoticed as do poor displays in a winning team.

St George Illawarra Dragons’ embattled halfback Ben Hunt knows this all too well.

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Gareth Widdop has gone into bat for embattled half Ben Hunt. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

In Round 20 against the Roosters the Dragons scored three tries, with Hunt crossing twice and providing the assist for Tariq Sims for the third.

Impressive outings like Hunt’s are often swept under the rug.

Hunt has been the focal point of an underperforming team regardless of the lacklustre efforts of some of his teammates.

While blame has to be shared, Hunt’s form outside of that Roosters clash has slipped below the expectation of his hefty price tag.

Returning skipper Gareth Widdop admits his halves partner needs to lift against the Broncos at Suncorp, but believes he has been lumped with criticism that should be directed at the entire team.

Widdop says Hunt receives unwarranted blame for poor team performances. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

“It just comes with wearing the number seven,” Widdop told The Daily Telegraph.

“Obviously he’s copped a lot of criticism over the last couple of weeks which is pretty unfair in some aspects.

“At the beginning of the year when we were winning he was a hero, and now we’re losing he gets the blame.

“We play a team sport, as 17 blokes every week we haven’t been doing our job to the best of our ability.

Widdop says NRL halfback’s are heaped with additional pressure. Picture: Brett Costello

“He’s copped a lot of the blame. He knows what he needs to do for this team and what he needs to work on and what he needs to make us tick.“

Johnathan Thurston also suffered criticism that he played a year too long despite leading the competition in try-assists, linebreak assists and forced drop outs.

Ultimately, a halfback’s season is measured on his team’s success, not so much his individual efforts.

The Dragons enter their week one finals clash as outsiders, but Widdop is adamant his side has already proven they can compete with the NRL’s best.

Widdop plays his first game since Round 22. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“We know when we turn up with the right attitude and we’re at our best we can match it with anyone. So for us it’s making sure that we do that,” he said.

“We have had a couple of games the last couple of weeks which we understand as players is not acceptable. It’s not up to standards of a professional level.

Widdop returns from a dislocated shoulder suffered in the side’s Round 22 clash with Parramatta, but has no doubts over the durability of his body.

“I wouldn’t be coming back and risking not playing or feeling good.”

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Originally published as Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop says wearing number seven puts added pressure on Ben Hunt