‘I needed counselling’: Ben Hunt reveals his dark spiral following 2015 grand final extra-time drop

A decade on from becoming the tragic poster boy of Brisbane’s agonising 2015 grand-final loss, Ben Hunt has revealed the dark places the defeat took him and the help he sought to deal with his demons. WATCH the exclusive video.

• The freakish play that led to a grand final miracle

Ben Hunt has revealed he underwent counselling following the grand-final heartbreak that is now fuelling his desire to win a premiership in his second coming at the Broncos.

Marquee off-season recruit Hunt will be a key man for the Broncos in Friday night’s blockbuster against the Cowboys in a Suncorp derby that marks the 10-year anniversary of the epic 2015 all-Queensland grand final.

There are now just two survivors from North Queensland’s thrilling 17-16 extra-time win - Broncos playmaker Hunt and Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo.

The XXXX derby will be another source of motivation for Hunt, who returned to Brisbane from the Dragons this season with a sense of unfinished business after his failed first stint at the Broncos.

Ben Hunt drops the ball from the kick-off in golden point

Hunt has become a tragic posterboy of Brisbane’s agonising 2015 grand-final loss, with the halfback famously dropping the extra-time kick-off that led to Johnathan Thurston’s title-winning field goal.

At the time, Hunt fell to his knees and appeared to sob, with the gut-wrenching moment even touching then Cowboys prop James Tamou, who consoled the Brisbane No.7 seconds before Thurston plunged the dagger into the Broncos.

A decade on, the 34-year-old Hunt is a more mature and mentally tougher NRL campaigner, the result of the Queensland Origin star seeking professional help to overcome his grand-final blunder.

Ben hunt has opened up on how he dealt with Brisbane's defeat in the 205 grand final.

IT WAS A DARK TIME

“I’ve definitely changed a lot in 10 years,” Hunt said ahead of the round 3 Cowboys showdown at Suncorp.

“The years following on from that (the 2015 grand final), I saw it as a dark time.

“It was something I wanted to forget about.

“I saw a counsellor for a lot of things.

“As time went on, it’s something I learnt a lot of lessons from ... how to deal with a lot of things within myself and how to manage pressure and expectation.

“I definitely think I’ve become a better and stronger person because of it.”

The evidence is tangible. Since his horror night, Hunt has soldiered on, defying his detractors as one of the code’s longest-serving players.

The kid from Dingo has become a Queensland Origin matchwinner, a two-time Ron McAuliffe Medallist, a World Cup winner with Australia and Brisbane’s key summer buy who chalks up his 337th NRL game on Friday night.

Johnathan Thurston embraces Ben Hunt after the match

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

While he is a proven performer for Queensland and Australia, there is one final frontier for Hunt: winning his maiden premiership ring and breaking Brisbane’s 19-year title drought.

“Every NRL player’s goal is to win a premiership and I’ve gone 15 or 16 years without winning one,” said Hunt, who turns 35 next Thursday.

“It (the 2015 grand-final loss) definitely pops up in my mind now and then.

“You still get the odd fan here and there that brings it up and reminds you.

“For the large part, I have put it behind me. I have had an amazing family and people around me to help with that, but you always get something here and there that triggers that thought.

Ben Hunt is signs autographs for fans the day after the grand final defeat. Picture: Dave Hunt

“Obviously, I would have loved for it to go the other way, but I’ve definitely moved on and become a stronger person for it.

“It would be the ultimate to win a comp. As proud as I am of what I have done playing for my state and country, winning a premiership with the Broncos would mean everything. That’s what we play the game for.

“It would have been 10 years next year since the 2015 grand final so it would be a pretty cool story if I could come back and win one.

“It really would cap off a great career, a strange career at times, but I want to lift that NRL trophy for the Broncos.”

OUR HEARTS WENT OUT TO BEN

The wife of the Cowboys’ only premiership coach, Paul Green, who tragically passed away in 2022, revealed even ‘Greeny’ felt for Hunt.

“Our hearts went out to Ben Hunt that night,” Amanda Green recalls. “Paul had worked with Ben when he was part of the elite player development at the Broncos, so we always had so much time for Ben.

“It’s great to see him back at the Broncos.”

Hunt has been among Brisbane’s best players in the opening two rounds - he set up two tries against Canberra last week - and Broncos coach Michael Maguire lauded the experience he has brought to his side’s left edge.

“I can’t be happier with how Ben has settled in,” Maguire said.

“His calmness and leadership has been excellent for our group.

“‘Hunty’ has the DNA of what the Broncos are about and that’s why I wanted him back here.

“He has combined really well with ‘Reyno’ (halfback Adam Reynolds) and they will only get better with their combinations during the year.”

Originally published as ‘I needed counselling’: Ben Hunt reveals his dark spiral following 2015 grand final extra-time drop