Ben Hunt’s journey from 2015 grand final heartbreak to NRL glory
Ben Hunt has scored ultimate grand final redemption, etching his name among the club greats. SPECIAL REPORT
It’s one of the most iconic NRL grand final moments for all the wrong reasons.
Ben Hunt’s dropped ball during golden point of the 2015 decider allowed the Cowboys the field position to slot the matchwinning field goal.
A decade on, Hunt’s clinched his moment of redemption at the Broncos claimed a seventh premiership with a 26-22 victory against the Storm.
As the veteran eyes the ultimate prize, this is the tale of his winding footy road >>>
Early years
Ben Hunt was born on March 27, 1990 in Rockhampton.
His dad Geoff was once a star half in Central Queensland who in 1979 chose an apprenticeship in the mines over an offer by Terry Fearnley to trial with the Eels.
“It makes me feel good about myself to make dad proud doing something that he possibly could have done, because you hear from a lot of blokes he played with over the years and they all raved that he was a great player,” Ben told NRL.com in 2018.
After spending his younger years playing for the Blackwater junior Crushers, Hunt moved to Yeppoon for schooling where he continued to excel in his beloved sport.
“I played from the under-7 side to the under-13,” he said in 2008.
“Then I moved to Yeppoon to go to boarding school and played for St Brendan’s College side.”
His mother De-Ann owned a beauty salon in Yeppoon.
“Mum was the one that put in all the kilometres driving us to games,” he said.
“When you play in Central Queensland they are two-or-three-hour drives to games and we never missed one. Mum was always willing to do that. I have to give credit to both of them.”
Hunt is the eldest of three kids, with younger sister Zoe and brother Adam.
Despite his upbringing in Queensland, Hunt supported the Cronulla Sharks and idolised Mat Rogers.
Rise in rugby league
When the late Cyril Connell first laid eyes on Hunt, he knew the boy from Dingo would play for the Broncos one day.
“We had Ben at a Broncos camp at Yeppoon earlier this year and we rated him one of the highest, even amongst the older kids,” the legendary Broncos talent scout said in April 2003.
A 13-year-old Hunt was the youngest recipient of a Broncos scholarship at that time.
Hunt in 2012 explained the impact Connell – who passed away in 2009 – had on his footy.
“I remember when I first met Cyril in under-12s out at Blackwater,” the Crushers junior said.
“He used to pick me up at the airport in Brisbane when I went down there for camps.
“He’d always say to me, ‘Everyone’s got talent, but you’ve got to work hard’.”
Hunt’s prowess earned him a spot on the Australian schoolboys team, touring New Zealand in 2007.
By 2008 he was the under-20 player of the year winner.
“It’s unreal. It’s unbelievable really,” Hunt said at the time.
“It’s just a great honour to win it, there’s a lot of stiff competition, and there’s a lot of really great players out there.”
Hunt made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2009 at the age of 19.
Over nine seasons with the club, he played 187 games and was recognised as the club’s Player of the Year in 2014, receiving the prestigious Paul Morgan Medal.
Grand final heartache
One of the defining moments of Hunt’s career came during the 2015 NRL grand final.
The Broncos faced North Queensland in a nailbiting match that ended in heartbreak for Hunt and his team, as the Cowboys secured victory in golden point extra time.
In September this year Hunt touched on his desire to go one better.
“I feel like we’ve got the team to do it,” he said of the Broncos.
“ … I believe we’ve got the team to do (win the big games), but we still need to do a lot better.”
Even Wayne Bennett in August 2025 touched on the moment and why Hunt’s dropped ball is not to blame for the result.
“I went to him and I said, ‘Ben, just get on with your bloody life’,” Bennett said.
“That was the key message.
“I will never accept if Ben gets blamed for us losing that grand final.
“It was devastating for all of us, but that moment when the ball was kicked to him and he dropped it, I never saw that as the reason we lost the grand final. I still don’t.
“That can happen. Everyone drops balls. We shouldn’t have even been in overtime.”
Switching clubs
In 2018, Hunt signed a lucrative five-year deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Hunt’s Broncos teammate Andrew McCullough said at the time he was not surprised by the news his good friend was leaving the club.
“He’s made this decision for his family,” he said.
“He has a young boy now. He has less than 10 years (in his career) left. At a certain stage in your career you have to realise that. He’s done that now.”
He became a key player for the Dragons, becoming club captain and earning the Dragons’ Player of the Year award in 2021.
His leadership and consistent performances solidified his reputation as one of the league’s top players.
Back to Broncos
After 12 months of jostling and looking at options to return to Queensland, Hunt in November 2024 announced his planned return to the Broncos in 2025.
This move marked a homecoming for the player who had spent the formative years of his career with the club.
“This is very special,” he said at the time.
“To be able to finish my career at the Broncos is something that I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do and I’ll cherish it.
“It’s definitely a club that has meant a lot to me, I’ve been involved with the Broncos since I was 13.
“I’ve been away for seven years but I’ve watched every single Broncos game since I’ve been gone – I never thought this would happen, so I’m pretty excited.
“The chance now to head back and chase that premiership together, is a dream come true.”
That dream came true with the 26-22 win against the Storm, although Hunt’s part was reduced as he was taken off the field late with a head knock.
Highlight moments
Hunt’s career has been marked by memorable moments, including his 350th NRL game in 2025.
“I’m extremely proud. It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride,” Hunt said ahead of his magical milestone.
“There’s been some challenging periods.
“It’s pretty crazy when you look at the list of players that have done it, being alongside champions of the game like Cam (Smith), ‘Locky’ (Darren Lockyer) and Cooper Cronk.
“I saw someone (a psychologist) on and off there for a while. I can’t remember the exact length of time, but there were times when I thought I was coming out the other side, then someone would say something, and I would find myself doubting myself again.”
His standout performance in the 2022 State of Origin series, where he scored a runaway try in Game III, was pivotal in Queensland’s victory.
Hunt also contributed to Australia’s World Cup defence in 2022 and played in the Kangaroos’ inaugural 9s title win in 2019.
Personal life
Hunt married Bridget Hagan in 2017 but even that moment was draped in drama.
A surprise Kangaroos call-up left him with a quandary: to forfeit his national jersey or continue with plans to marry his fiancee.
“I got the call first and let it sink in and then holy hell I had to run it past the coach,” Hunt said in October 2017.
“We went down for medicals on Thursday and I went and asked (coach Mal Meninga). He was very understanding and was like ‘do you really want to get married’. I was like ‘ I would like to’. And said ‘OK I’ll let you go and get married then’. He was really good.
“(Bridget) was a bit nervous. There was a lot of planning and it was all booked. I couldn’t pull it. It was a very nervous time for a bit but it was all good.”
The pair now have two sons, Brady and Bowie.
“You know what I’m sick to death of?? I’ve sat in silence for long enough not buying into it, but I’ve had a gut full (sic),” Bridget wrote on Instagram.
“All of you people who work in the media and constantly bash the s*** out of players for their performances should be ashamed of yourself.”
Hunt’s brother-in-law is his former Broncos teammate Jake Granville, who is married to Hunt’s sister Zoe.
Hunt’s wife, Bridget, is the niece of former Maroons player and coach Michael Hagan.
WATCH: 10 iconic Ashes moments that rocked the Gabba
