Dragons halfback Ben Hunt haunts Broncos for second time with starring finals performance
TWO times this season Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has met his former side and two times this season Hunt has walked away the victor.
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BEN Hunt has had the last laugh.
Two times this season the Dragons halfback has met his former side and two times this season Hunt has walked away the victor.
After weeks of copping the majority of criticism for St George Illawarra’s form slump, the Dingo-born playmaker returned to his one-time home ground with a newfound confidence.
He looked like the same player who upset the Broncos in Round 1.
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When his face flashed up on the big screen before kick-off, he was loudly booed.
Every time he stood under a Broncos kick, he was jeered by those fans who once adored him and cheered by the small Dragons supporter bay in the corner of Suncorp Stadium.
But he remained resilient and broke the hearts of the 47,000 Broncos fans who had packed the stands as his side absolutely thrashed Brisbane.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor did not want to talk up the efforts of Hunt too greatly on Sunday, but said seeing him in the winning dressing room was enough of a reward for the criticism he’s copped.
“He gets the blame for a lot of things,” McGregor said.
“I’m just glad he’s in that shed smiling.”
Hunt played a hand in three tries across the afternoon, helping his side to the victory.
The first came in the 20th minute when he put Tariq Sims through a gap between Kodi Nikorima and James Roberts.
Thirteen minutes later, he ducked into dummy-half and combined with Gareth Widdop to get Sims across the line for his second.
Then, just eight minutes into the second half when the Broncos desperately needed to swing the momentum, he and Matt Dufty worked together to put Tim Lafai over.
After weeks of being the butt of jokes, the face of St George Illawarra’s failures, it was the perfect way to respond.
Even when Widdop went off in the 57th minute with a dislocated shoulder, Hunt maintained his composure and control, helping his side put a stop to any assault from the Broncos.
Among the Dragons supporters, a massive banner read, “It’s Hunt-ing season”.
And it was.
The Queensland talent’s finals hopes are still alive.
Brisbane’s are not.
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Originally published as Dragons halfback Ben Hunt haunts Broncos for second time with starring finals performance