Corey Oates stars as Brisbane down Parramatta 17-4 in season opener

WAYNE Bennett has unloaded on Ben Hunt’s critics as Brisbane ground out a 17-4 win over Parramatta in the season opener.

Bronco's Corey Oates makes a break during the round 1 NRL game between the Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos at Pirtek Stadium ,Parramatta.Picture Gregg Porteous

WAYNE Bennett launched a stinging defence of halfback Ben Hunt as the Corey Oates show came to light at Parramatta with the Broncos kickstarting their premiership redemption with a 17–4 win.

Brisbane had 151 days to stew over last year’s gutting grand final, where a Johnathan Thurston field goal in golden point crushed their dreams of a seventh NRL title.

By his own admissions Hunt wasn’t at his scheming best but the win would have gone some way to erasing the memories of that terrible feeling at ANZ Stadium last October.

The 17,324 at Pirtek Stadium roared every time a kick-off went in Hunt’s direction, hoping for a repeat of that infamous knock on, but he was faultless in piloting the Broncos to an important Round 1 victory on the road.

“It’s been the greatest overkill I’ve ever seen on a player in my life,” Bennett said.

“We lost the grand final long before that kick went in the air. He wasn’t the reason for all the things that happened in the 80 minutes prior to that.

“People that don’t understand what makes the game work were mouthing off and talking cheap.

“I never bought into a moment of it. No one in that team has ever blamed Ben Hunt for anything.

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“He turns up every week and plays his heart out for us.

“To me it was a myth. He knew had our support. Team sport’s built on more than one moment in the game.

“If you start listening to fans it won’t be long before you’re sitting with them.”

Hunt, who led Brisbane’s attack with 27 try-assists last year, threw a beautiful cut-out pass to put Jordan Kahu, who left the field with a thigh injury in the first half, over for the first points of the season.

A barnstorming Oates produced a deft kick for Anthony Milford to score and scoring himself after fill-in centre Alex Glenn manufactured a stunning pass for the flying winger.

Oates was incredible in his 55th NRL game, making three line breaks, busting six tackles and running for more than 220m.

Glenn deputised well in the centres.

“Last year we saw what he could do,” said Broncos captain Corey Parker.

“The challenge for him is to do that every week. Hopefully for our sake he does that this year.

“He’s a great athlete. He’s big, strong and fast.”

Parramatta’s plans of unveiling their trio of big-name recruits was crushed when captain Kieran Foran (hamstring) was ruled out while Origin duo Beau Scott and Michael Jennings had little impact on club debut.

When the Eels lost five-eighth Corey Norman, the best player at last month’s Auckland Nines, to a neck injury at half-time they also saw any hope of a comeback victory go with him.

This wasn’t the prettiest Broncos win but they never are in March and Kahu’s injury was the only sour note for the Broncos ahead of next Friday’s first home game against the Warriors.

Bennett said he wouldn’t rush Reed back at Suncorp Stadium unless he is cleared by medical staff and Alex Glenn proved he is more than handy in his absence.

Originally published as Corey Oates stars as Brisbane down Parramatta 17-4 in season opener