Ben Hunt (rugby league)
.jpg) Hunt playing for the Broncos in 2009. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 27 March 1990 Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback, Hooker, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 24 May 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ben Hunt (born 27 March 1990) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League. He primarily plays halfback, hooker and five-eighth.
Early career
While attending St. Brendan's College in Yeppoon, Hunt was placed on a scholarship with the Broncos. He achieved much while at St Brendan's College with the team reaching the Queensland final of the Arrive Alive Cup in 2007. Also during 2007, Hunt was selected for the Australia Schoolboys after a strong showing for the Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League team during the A.S.S.R.L 2007 National Championships.
Hunt was selected in the Queensland Under-18 side to play in the curtain raiser to Game Two of the 2008 State of Origin series.[1] In 2008, Hunt played for the Brisbane Broncos in the inaugural season of the Toyota Cup, helping them reach the Grand Final only to lose to the Minor Premiers Canberra Raiders 28-24. A clear stand out performer for the Broncos, Hunt scored 166 points in 26 games, including 17 tries and 49 goals.
Hunt made his first grade debut with the Broncos as a nineteen-year-old halfback in a 12-46 thrashing at the hands of his boyhood team the Cronulla Sharks in Round 15, 2009. He went on to play two more games that season in losses to both the Titans and the Raiders.
2010 was seen as a breakthrough season for Hunt, playing 19 games and even making a push for a starting position at dummy-half. After some impressive performances that included two tries, many were calling for Hunt to get a run as a starting Hooker. Although Hunt stayed as a bench player, he certainly demonstrated that he could be the Broncos' future Halfback.[2]
After a shaky start to 2011, Hunt regained his form with an impressive performance against Canberra. After showing solid form off the bench, Hunt broke his finger in the Round 9 clash against the Melbourne Storm, causing him to be out of action until Round 17.[3] Hunt made his return in Round 17 against the Parramatta Eels but was then stood down for a week with team mate Andrew McCullough after being charged with public nuisance following a night of drinking in the Brisbane CBD.[4]
After the retirement of Broncos' great Darren Lockyer, Hunt was nominated alongside teammate Corey Norman to fill the vacant five-eighth position.[5] The pair battled out in the trials but Hunt eventually lost out to Norman, leaving Hunt on the bench once again for Round 1, 2012. In Round 7, against the Raiders, Hunt and Norman both got the chance to showcase their skills on the centre stage with regular halfback Peter Wallace a late withdrawal through injury. Norman and Hunt didn't disappoint with the pair combining beautifully as the Broncos ran out 30-6 winners. With Hunt managing to get on the try-scorers' list.[6] After the Broncos stumbled at the back end of 2012, losing 7 of 10 games en route to the finals, Hunt found himself in the five-eighth role with Norman dropped to the bench following poor form. Despite playing quite well, Hunt found himself back on the bench as the Broncos were knocked out in the first week of the finals losing 33-16 against the North Queensland Cowboys.[7]
Hunt continued his bench role for the start of the 2013 NRL season as the Broncos made a shaky start. Hunt got his first opportunity in his preferred halfback role in the Round 9 clash against the Eels, as Scott Prince suffered an injury in the opening minutes. Hunt signed a two-year deal with the Broncos on 14 May 2013, showing the club's belief that he is a long-term halves option.[8]
Brisbane Broncos
| Season | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 2010 | 20 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| 2011 | 19 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| 2012 | 25 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| 2013 | 18 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| 2014* | 5 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
| Total | 84 | 5 | - | - | 20 |
(* denotes season still competing.)
Personal life
Despite growing up in Queensland, Hunt is a self-proclaimed Cronulla Sharks fan. As a youngster he idolised Mat Rogers which was the reason he supported the Sharks, the team he in fact made his debut against. Hunt has also stated Andrew Johns as the player who most influenced his game.[9]
Achievements
Ben Hunt won the inaugural 2008 Toyota Cup Player of the Year.[10]
He was also named in the 2008 Toyota Cup Team of the Year on the Interchange bench.[11]
References
- ^ Queensland Teams Named Today QRL. Retrieved 6 May 2008
- ^ Ben Hunt Statistics Rleague. Retrieved 23 September 2008
- ^ Hunt injury jeopardises Lockyer rest ABC News. Retrieved 10 May 2011
- ^ Broncos stand down Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt over off-field misbehaviour Courier Mail. Retrieved 20 June 2011
- ^ Broncos Ben Hunt, Corey Norman are the leading candidates to replace Darren Lockyer The Australian. Retrieved 22 November 2011
- ^ Campese felled as Broncos rock Raiders ABC News. Retrieved 13 April 2012
- ^ Cowboys put the boot into Broncos ABC News. Retrieved 8 September 2012
- ^ Ben Hunt eyes Scott Prince's No.6 jumper after signing new two-year deal with Broncos ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2013
- ^ Player Profile: Ben Hunt Brisbane Broncos. Retrieved 11 April 2011
- ^ Broncos rising star Ben Hunt aims for schoolboys win Courier Mail. Retrieved 11 September 2008
- ^ Toyota Cup Team of the Year FoxSports. Retrieved 2 September 2008