Ben Hunt offers olive branch to likely Maroons halves partner Cam Munster after World Cup punch up

“COME have a chat if you don’t want to fight me.” They were the first words from Ben Hunt to likely Origin halves partner Cameron Munster months after the two came to blows during the World Cup.

Ben Hunt buried the hatchet with likely Origin halves partner Cameron Munster.

“COME have a chat if you don’t want to fight me.”

They were the words from Ben Hunt to Cameron Munster following St George Illawarra’s crushing win over Melbourne at Kogarah last Sunday.

The likely Queensland halves pairing made headlines for all the wrong reasons while on duty for Australia during last year’s Rugby League World Cup.

Munster was sent home after coming to blows with Hunt on a night out in Darwin.

Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster learning from the best last year.

And last weekend’s game was the first time they’ve been face-to-face on the field since the incident and Dragons half Hunt made a beeline for the Storm playmaker on fulltime - albeit tentatively.

“We had a bit of a chat after the game and I said ‘come have a chat if you don’t want to fight me’,” he Hunt said.

But Hunt insists both players have smoothed things over and is even willing to bunker down with Munster during Origin to prove it.

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“Yeah it’s all good between us. He’s a bit of a pest but I’d have no troubles rooming with him at all,” he said.

Hunt has been in blistering form for the ladder leaders and he credits coach Paul McGregor for getting the best out of his game.

He says McGregor’s trust in his ability and the freedom he has been given to call the shots on the field have elevated his game to another level.

“The coaching I’m getting here… (McGregor) always said from the start he wants me to come down here and play my style of footy, go out there and play how good he knows I can,” he said.

Ben Hunt buried the hatchet with likely Origin halves partner Cameron Munster.

“He’s been really good in that way and backing me to go and play footy.

“I don’t feel like there is any pressure, I just go out there and do what I like doing.”

Hunt is hesitant to admit that he was shackled at the Broncos under Wayne Bennett and by the on-field instruction he would receive from club legend and former halfback Allan Langer.

“It’s not so much (Langer being) in my ear,” he said.

“It was a different style of football up there. It was more structured and trying to do a few different things that meant I wasn’t getting my hands on the ball as much as I should have been.”

Another reason Hunt has been able to get so involved in his side’s attack at the Dragons is the protection he is receiving from his powerhouse forward pack and the fact he is doing less work in defence.

According to Fox Sports Lab, Hunt is making seven less tackles a game than when he was at the Broncos.

“We mention Gareth (Widdop) and how good he’s going but the forward pack we’ve got and outside backs, everyone is contributing as well… it makes your job easier and it makes you feel a lot more comfortable.”

Ben Hunt scored bragging rights over Cameron Munster on Sunday.

Hunt’s start to season 2018 has him firmly in the frame to take over from Cooper Cronk in the No.7 for Queensland.

Hunt played off the bench in game three of the 2017 series and says coach Kevin Walters can confidently pick him to step-up in Cronk’s absence.

“I feel like I will be ready,” he said.

“At the moment I still feel like I can still play better footy for the Dragons. I wasn’t overly happy with my game on the weekend but I still think there is a few things I can work on to get to that next level.”

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Originally published as Ben Hunt offers olive branch to likely Maroons halves partner Cam Munster after World Cup punch up