‘Strepsils anyone?’: Fans make same joke about Darren Lockyer-Ben Hunt interview

A quick Darren Lockyer interview with Ben Hunt at halftime of State of Origin game one has seen fans all make the same joke.

Lockyer and Hunt have the same voice. Photo: Channel 9

It was less than a minute long but an interview between Maroons legend Darren Lockyer and Queensland hooker Ben Hunt has given State of Origin fans a good laugh.

Lockyer is one of the greatest players to have played the game, playing 355 first-grade games and 36 Origins (plus two more during Super League) as well as 59 Test matches for Australia (plus four more during Super League).

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

But having been retired since 2011, he’s probably more known in the modern game for his distinctive voice.

The 46-year-old is part of the Channel 9 commentary team but his gravelly voice is unmistakeable.

That is until he spoke with Ben Hunt at halftime of Wednesday night’s Origin clash.

Lockyer said: “Ben Hunt, you flew out of the blocks, but you’ve had had to rely on your scrambling defence back end of that half...”

Hunt replied: “We got a really good start. Few penalties at the start got us in

good field position, got some tries.

“Credit to our boys definitely back end of that half to defend our line.

“Couple of boys got a head knock, one of them not sure what happened to Tommy. We have got a few boys that can fill those positions.”

Lockyer: “Good luck for the second half.”

Hunt: “Thanks Darren.”

Darren Lockyer. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Ben Hunt. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It was a blink and you’d miss it moment but if you shut your eyes, you’d have been forgiven for thinking Lockyer was talking to himself as Hunt’s gravelly voice now rivals the legend.

Fans were blown away by how similar the pair sounded.

But the video was picked up on Reddit, with a fan saying: “Deadset laughed so much. Imagine these two on a podcast together.”

It was also picked up on Twitter.

One said: “If you close your eyes while listening to Ben Hunt. You would think it was Darren Lockyer speaking.”

Another added: “Not sure I’ve heard anything more incoherent than Lockyer interviewing Ben Hunt. Makes cityrail announcements sound like Dolby.”

Another posted: “Darren Lockyer interviewing Ben Hunt sounds just like Darren Lockyer interviewing Darren Lockyer.”

“Lol darren lockyer interviewing ben hunt. Haha strepsils anyone ive got a frog in my throat, same here.,” another commented.

“Not sure who sounds like they have had a bigger night on the darts in this halftime interview: Darren Lockyer or Ben Hunt,” another wrote.

It’s not the first time the pair’s vocal talents have been compared.

In July last year, Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson said the pair had: “More gravel than a rural driveway” in reply to a tweet which read: “Is Darren Lockyer Ben Hunt’s voice coach?”

It hasn’t always been that way for Lockyer however, who’s distinctive voice reportedly came from a hit to the throat in 2004, which caused damage to a small bone in his larynx.

While it could be corrected with surgery, it’s believed Lockyer has so far refused to go under the knife.

As for Hunt, it’s unknown why he’s so unusually husky but the 32-year-old has played 302 first grade games, 15 Origins and 12 Tests for Australia.

Originally published as ‘Strepsils anyone?’: Fans make same joke about Darren Lockyer-Ben Hunt interview