Dragons halves Gareth Widdop and Ben Hunt continue instant combination

THERE were epic expectations around the Dragons halves, but Gareth Widdop and Ben Hunt continue to make every post a winner with the high-flying Red V.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons kicks during the Round 4 NRL match between the St George-Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, Sunday, April 1, 2018. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

COLONEL Steve Austin never needed a sidekick.

Instead, the 1970s superhero solving everything with those bionic eyes, legs, even that right arm boasting all the strength of a Komatsu bulldozer.

But St George Illawarra’s Six Million Dollar Man?

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Well, he has a beauty.

All of which makes Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop the most dangerous halves pairing in the NRL.

While they may have started 2018 covered in more question marks than The Riddler, this newest of Dragons duo has taken just four weeks to become the six and seven most often leaving defences at sixes and sevens.

Widdop has been in top form again this season.

Against Newcastle on Sunday, the pair orchestrated three tries, forced as many drop outs, converted five goals, kicked over 560m and generally put themselves into everything bar the cheerleaders’ halftime performance.

No small thing considering the pressure they’ve been under, right?

“I don’t know if they’ve come in with pressure,” Dragons coach Paul McGregor said afterwards. “Last year, Gareth got Five-eighth of the Year and ran third in the Dally Ms — in a side that didn’t make the finals.

“So he’s under no pressure.”

Expectation then?

“Expectation is probably a better word, yeah,” McGregor continued. “And the Red V demands that, doesn’t it?

“Then when you’ve got two world class halves, the expectation is a little bit higher (again). But they haven’t let anyone down thus far ...”

No, they haven’t.

Hunt has totally justified his hefty contract.

In fact, if you were to rank every halves combination over the opening month — which is a far more appealing than, say, adding up all the penalties — who out there is playing better?

Sure, the Warriors Shaun Johnson and Blake Green are close.

Maybe only a bee’s appendage in it.

But given Johnson didn’t play in Saturday’s win over the Roosters, it’s hard to go past the only other undefeated mob.

Especially now with Nathan Cleary sidelined at Penrith. And Cooper Cronk’s Roosters struggling.

Elsewhere, Parramatta’s halves, dubbed premiership material, are winless. And Melbourne, still boasting the rugby league equivalent of new car smell.

And who would’ve predicted the Cowboys Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan to boast just one win?

And yes, we know it’s only been four weeks.

As far as marriages go, Widdop and Hunt together fewer days then even Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock.

But Hunt, remember, is the same Dragons import who lived all summer beneath those headlines asking if he was really worth $1.2 million annually.

With plenty lining up to argue ‘against’.

Hunt has made Widdop more dangerous and vice versa.

But now?

“Ben has come in and really made us a threat on both sides of the park,” McGregor said. “He’s also given us a better balance with his kicking game.

“Benny’s a really good character. Enjoying his time here and working hard.

“And those (two) boys are not satisfied with anything but the standards we set. They make each other accountable.”

Meanwhile, the other talking point of the night was the likely ACL injury suffered by Knights centre Tautau Moga — his fourth.

“He’s devastated, coach Nathan Brown said afterwards. “And that’s being nice, he’s way worse than that.”

Added halfback Mitch Pearce added: “It’s devastating ... we’re absolutely shattered for him.”

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