Maligned NRL star Ben Hunt’s stunning transformation in 2022

Dragons star Ben Hunt sent a message to the competition on Anzac Day s the Dragons stunned the NRL in a cliffhanger.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons celebrates victory with the ANZAC Day trophy. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Ben Hunt has carried the Dragons to a famous Anzac Day win that almost nobody saw coming.

The star halfback was the hero in the final minute mayhem where the Roosters very nearly stole the game in the final seconds.

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The Dragons ambushed the sluggish Roosters with their first half intensity and kept their opposition scoreless in the first half.

They held on to win 14-12 — their first win over the Roosters following seven consecutive losses.

Hunt, like Wests Tigers Luke Brooks, is one of the most maligned players in the game as a result of his fat pay checks and his team’s struggles on the field.

Ben Hunt was everywhere.

On Monday, he showed exactly why the Dragons were so desperate to sign him — even on a deal reported to be worth more than $1 million per season.

He saved the game twice at the death. He first kicked a crucial 40-20 with three minutes to go to give the Roosters just one more chance to score the match-winning try.

He then iced the game with a desperate knockdown when Roosters winger Daniel Tupou was trying to offload to an open teammate as the Chooks made a break down the sideline.

Hunt showed incredible desperation to get his fingers on the ball — saving the game.

“The Roosters were coming at us pretty hard,” Hunt said.

“I find those wins pretty special when you’re just toughing it out. To hang on, it’s right up there (as the best win I’ve had at the club).”

The match was briefly overshadowed by an ugly high tackle from Tupou on Mikaele Ravalawa in the second half.

Ben Hunt put on a masterclass. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

As reported by NCA NewsWire, the Dragons winger made a break down the right edge when he was collected across the jaw by Tupou as he came across in cover defence.

Given the tackle was forceful and made direct contact to the head, it should have been a sin bin under the NRL’s laws based on what we’ve seen this year.

“You would’ve got two years at Magic Round last year for that. I’m serious,” Griffin said.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo also told ABC Radio after the game he would have liked to see Tupou sent to the bin,

Originally published as Maligned NRL star Ben Hunt’s stunning transformation in 2022