Maroons star Ben Hunt set to play State of Origin in 2025

A month before his 35th birthday, Broncos prodigal son and Maroons star Ben Hunt has made a call on his State of Origin future.

Ben Hunt has revealed he is extending his Queensland Origin career as the marquee Brisbane recruit vowed to unleash Reece Walsh this season in a one-two attacking punch to deliver a Broncos premiership.

As he prepares for his Broncos return at five-eighth in Thursday night’s round 1 clash against the Roosters, Hunt outlined his plan to join forces with Walsh in a lethal left-sided attacking alliance this season.

And Hunt is keen to continue his association with Walsh in Queensland colours, with the veteran playmaker shelving Origin retirement plans to chase more glory with the Maroons this season.

Hunt and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans told this masthead last season they were considering quitting State of Origin in a bid to prolong their club careers with the Broncos and Manly respectively.

Just weeks after Daly Cherry-Evans revealed he planned to play on, Ben Hunt says he will go around again for the Maroons in 2025. Picture: Getty Images

But Hunt has settled so seamlessly into his second coming at the Broncos that the 34-year-old has made himself available for a ninth consecutive Origin campaign with Billy Slater’s Maroons.

“I’d love to play Origin this year,” Hunt said.

“If I get the opportunity, us old fellas (including Cherry-Evans) will keep soldiering on.

“I love playing for Queensland and whenever I get the opportunity, it’s going to be hard to turn down.

“I’ve never taken the Queensland jumper for granted, so if I’m fit and playing good footy for the Broncos this year and Billy (Slater) wants me in there, I will be there.”

Hunt has had a talismanic touch in Maroon, a two-time Ron McAuliffe Medallist who famously scored the runaway try to clinch the 2022 Origin series in the decider at Suncorp decider.

Hunt celebrates after scoring the runaway try to clinch the 2022 Origin series in the decider at Suncorp. Picture: Getty Images

A veteran of 20 Origin matches, Hunt produced more brilliance the following year, playing a key role in Queensland’s 2023 series triumph which gave Slater’s back-to-back titles as a rookie Maroons coach.

Now Hunt is primed to bring a premiership-winning edge to the Broncos by teaming with Walsh in Brisbane’s bid to snap a 19-year title drought.

Hunt, the sole survivor of Brisbane’s heartbreaking 2015 grand final loss to the Cowboys, laid down a formidable marker in last Saturday night’s 30-14 trial defeat of the Bulldogs.

In his Broncos comeback, Hunt had a hand in two tries, including a crisp backline move in which he held the ball up for a flying Walsh, who injected himself at the perfect time to put Jesse Arthars over.

Hunt is primed to bring a premiership-winning edge to the Broncos. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Hunt-Walsh alliance has the potential to be as lethal as the Cody Walker-Latrell Mitchell combination at South Sydney, with the former Dragons skipper keen to give ‘Reece Lightning’ room to attack.

In a stunning assessment, Hunt rates superstar fullback Walsh arguably the most gifted natural talent he has seen.

“It’s hard to put someone else beside Reece with the tool kit he has,” Hunt said.

“I haven’t seen many guys with his raw skill and talent.

“I still think Reece has a long way to go with his career and that’s not a knock on him, I just think there’s so much improvement in him.

“With the different things he can do in his game, the raw talent is really there for Reece to do something special.

Hunt rates superstar fullback Reece Walsh as arguably the most gifted natural talent he has seen. Picture: Getty Images

“He has been working his magic for a couple of years, but I would love to help Reece get better and release him a bit more.

“I’ve worked out that you don’t need to create too much space for Reece, you just have to give him half an opportunity and he will do a fair bit with it.

“I am trying to manage how he gets the ball.”

Hunt will officially begin his scrumbase partner with Broncos champion Adam Reynolds in the premiership opener and is desperate to win a maiden premiership ring _ 10 years on from his grand-final heartbreak.

“I definitely would love to win it before I retire,” he said.

“It would mean the world.

“Everyone wants to win a competition and to come back 10 years later and do it in Broncos colours would be pretty damn special I think.

“That’s the goal this year (lifting the NRL trophy) … it would be nice.”