Mr Invisible
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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ev...s-he-should-move-to-no-9-20181003-p507ks.html
By Phil Lutton 3 October 2018 — 5:59pm
Ben Hunt remains determined to stay in the No.7 for the Dragons, but wouldn't object to making a permanent transition to hooker if it helped St George-Illawarra go to a new level next season.
The 28-year-old will play dummy half for the Prime Minister's XIII in Papua New Guinea and has performed strongly in the role in the past, most recently when picked as a utility for the Maroons in game three of this year's series.
He used to resent his utility value as a footballer, which saw him used as an interchange specialist for much of his career at the Broncos before he was finally given the chance to perform in the No.7 jersey.
The Dragons made him their key purchase for 2018 and Hunt endured an up-and-down season, which ended with the club's defeat at the hands of South Sydney in the second week of the finals.
Now even his wife, Bridget, has told him it's worth exploring the possibility of a positional shift, while Hunt has come to terms with the fact he has something to contribute in a variety of places on the park.
"I've had a fair bit of thought about it, to be honest, especially since that last Origin," he said. "Every time I've had an opportunity to play there I feel like I've played pretty well.
"My wife has told me a few times: 'Why don't you just play hooker?' Wherever the coach wants to play me, I'm happy to play there, whether it's half or hooker. I've learned to live with the fact I can play hooker pretty well. At the end of the day, I still want to play halfback."
Hunt has come under fire for his decision-making late in games and admitted to enjoying the simplicity that comes with wearing the No.9, where he can concentrate on getting his forwards moving and employing his kicking game.
"It just simplifies things for me," he said. "I just think that's why I play some good footy there. I just have to worry about my little bubble in the middle there."
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga believes Hunt spends too much time listening to outside noise and Hunt didn't disagree. But he said he enters the internationals full of confidence and won't be paying attention to his critics any longer.
"I definitely agree with it [Meninga's view]," he said. "Throughout the middle of the year, I think I did [listen to critics] a bit. I never thought I was a guy that did that too much, but I found myself doing that through the season.
“I think that’s something that’s helped me in the last month. I’ve got away from social media and stuck to the people I trust and what they have to say."
Meninga remains a fan and, with Michael Morgan not in the picture, Hunt shapes as the ideal bench man for the Kangaroos. He never wanted to be a bits-and-pieces player, but if it means being in the national 17, he's more than happy to contribute in any way he can.
“It’s a position I never wanted to be comfortable with, but now I’ve played it a bit and got my head around it I’m pretty excited," Hunt said.
“I’m definitely comfortable with that. He’s [Meninga] talked to me about that. I’ve accepted it’s a pretty good position for me and if he wants me to play that position I’m going to do the best job I can for him. As a utility, you don’t really know what position you’re going to play but when he calls me up I’ll be ready to go."
...
Superb idea... giving butterfingers Ben the ball from the ruck.
I can only see that ending in disaster.
By Phil Lutton 3 October 2018 — 5:59pm
Ben Hunt remains determined to stay in the No.7 for the Dragons, but wouldn't object to making a permanent transition to hooker if it helped St George-Illawarra go to a new level next season.
The 28-year-old will play dummy half for the Prime Minister's XIII in Papua New Guinea and has performed strongly in the role in the past, most recently when picked as a utility for the Maroons in game three of this year's series.
He used to resent his utility value as a footballer, which saw him used as an interchange specialist for much of his career at the Broncos before he was finally given the chance to perform in the No.7 jersey.
The Dragons made him their key purchase for 2018 and Hunt endured an up-and-down season, which ended with the club's defeat at the hands of South Sydney in the second week of the finals.
Now even his wife, Bridget, has told him it's worth exploring the possibility of a positional shift, while Hunt has come to terms with the fact he has something to contribute in a variety of places on the park.
"I've had a fair bit of thought about it, to be honest, especially since that last Origin," he said. "Every time I've had an opportunity to play there I feel like I've played pretty well.
"My wife has told me a few times: 'Why don't you just play hooker?' Wherever the coach wants to play me, I'm happy to play there, whether it's half or hooker. I've learned to live with the fact I can play hooker pretty well. At the end of the day, I still want to play halfback."
Hunt has come under fire for his decision-making late in games and admitted to enjoying the simplicity that comes with wearing the No.9, where he can concentrate on getting his forwards moving and employing his kicking game.
"It just simplifies things for me," he said. "I just think that's why I play some good footy there. I just have to worry about my little bubble in the middle there."
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga believes Hunt spends too much time listening to outside noise and Hunt didn't disagree. But he said he enters the internationals full of confidence and won't be paying attention to his critics any longer.
"I definitely agree with it [Meninga's view]," he said. "Throughout the middle of the year, I think I did [listen to critics] a bit. I never thought I was a guy that did that too much, but I found myself doing that through the season.
“I think that’s something that’s helped me in the last month. I’ve got away from social media and stuck to the people I trust and what they have to say."
Meninga remains a fan and, with Michael Morgan not in the picture, Hunt shapes as the ideal bench man for the Kangaroos. He never wanted to be a bits-and-pieces player, but if it means being in the national 17, he's more than happy to contribute in any way he can.
“It’s a position I never wanted to be comfortable with, but now I’ve played it a bit and got my head around it I’m pretty excited," Hunt said.
“I’m definitely comfortable with that. He’s [Meninga] talked to me about that. I’ve accepted it’s a pretty good position for me and if he wants me to play that position I’m going to do the best job I can for him. As a utility, you don’t really know what position you’re going to play but when he calls me up I’ll be ready to go."
...
Superb idea... giving butterfingers Ben the ball from the ruck.
I can only see that ending in disaster.
