Today when the Queensland Maroons announce their State of Origin squad, I am expecting them to name Ben Hunt in the number seven jersey.
If I’m Kevin Walters, I wonder what the point is of making drastic changes to the Maroons squad. The final game is a dead-rubber. The squad will want some stability particularly after the potential injury concerns over the weekend to players like Greg Inglis and Dylan Napa.
Also, even if Ben Hunt could be replaced, who would replace him for Game 3? Michael Morgan is still injured and it looks like Kalyn Ponga will be another player unavailable for the Maroons.
Regardless of any potential changes, Game 3 this year matters very little. The Blues have won the series.
Whether Hunt is picked or not, the bigger question for mine is whether he should be selected to wear the number seven jersey for Queensland ever again after his performances in the first two games.
If you listen to many footy fans, the answer is absolutely not. But is this too harsh?
This year’s Origin series was always going to be a challenging one for Queensland. You don’t lose players the calibre of Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith and not feel the impact, not just because of a loss of experience and ability, but also because of a loss of footy smarts.
We saw the direct impact of this in Game 2 when Queensland were the better team for most of the game, but lost because they played stupid football at key moments.
Not only was the loss of these players going to hurt, but I also wonder how much it impacted the way the team was coached. These were once-in-a-generation players, many of whom played together at a club level week in, week out and knew exactly how the others approached their footy.
In previous years, I question how much thought Walters would have had to have put into his game plan or whether it was very much a case of ‘let the boys play’ and play they certainly did.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Whoever was wearing that number seven jersey for Queensland this year was always going to have a big job ahead of them and was going to face massive criticism had the Maroons lost.
Halfbacks are often convenient scapegoats when a team loses. Just ask any Blues fan how they feel about Mitchell Pearce.
Unfortunately for Hunt, Queensland lost and he didn’t play well. And he was roasted for it, both at the end of Game 1 but more so at the conclusion of Game 2.
Hunt has played over 200 NRL games and he is 28 years old. I know this was a tough series to come in to and I know he has been a convenient scapegoat, but for those people (Walters included) who are asking for fans to have patience with him, I query whether a player of his calibre needs more patience.
I also wonder what we saw in Games 1 or 2 that suggest Queensland should be patient with him.
His performance in Game 2 was difficult to watch, particularly because so often play stopped with him.
What was working so well for Queensland in the first 20 minutes of the game was playing the game through the forwards and up the middle, giving Billy Slater the ball and then allowing him to give good early ball down the edges to players like Will Chambers and Dane Gagai.
Particularly with Chambers, despite him not having his best game, just about any time he received the ball on the edge resulted in a break, a try or a disallowed try.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
The minute Ponga came on, this stopped happening. Not just because Slater was going into first receiver, but also because Hunt is not a player who likes to give the edge good, early ball. He’s more of a ball running half.
The problem is for this to be effective, Hunt actually needs to run the ball. In Game 2 he ran the ball five times, but from memory only on one of those occasions was a true example of him running the football.
For a 28-year-old halfback, he was also making fundamental errors like kicking early.
While kicking early sounds like a great tactic in theory, for it to be effective a halfback needs to kick the ball to the edges because while the fullback is always in position, the wingers are often not. When Hunt was kicking the ball early, it was finding James Tedesco on the chest and the Blues were starting their sets on the 30-metre line.
I haven’t even mentioned the professional foul that led to the Blues’ penalty try.
Unfortunately for Queensland and its new spine, when the likes of Cameron Munster and Andrew McCullough are playing, they need a big-game half to take control of the game. I question whether Hunt is this half and whether he may be a player who is best suited to club football.
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This year, the Blues did something I loved. They picked players based on form and a nucleus of young men that Brad Fittler can use to build a squad around for years to come like Nathan Cleary, Josh Ado-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook.
Perhaps it’s time Queensland followed their lead because I don’t know that affording Hunt the same patience that NSW did to Mitchell Pearce will be an effective strategy in the long term.
Going forward, Hunt is not the man to lead the Maroons.
Dutski
Roar Guru
He’s useless! Never play Origin again! Put him on the bench! Make up your mind!
Dutski
Roar Guru
I agree to be patient with Munster. I also think the same with Hunt. We see it differently. I can live with that.
Dutski
Roar Guru
My apologies - I meant a pack that failed to dominate. It’s just as easy to blame the pack when a halfback fails to fire as it is to blame the half when the pack fails to lay a strong platform.
Dutski
Roar Guru
I didn’t say they GOT dominated, but that they weren’t dominant. Slight but important difference
Someone
Guest
I wouldn't rub Hunt out of Origin for good. I'm happy they are using the opportunity of the dead rubber to see how DCE goes. Also happy to see Oates on the wing. Next year is a new series and it will come down to availability, form and injuries as to who ends up in the number 7. I don't rate Hunt as highly as JT obviously, however he has only had 3 games. One last year where he didn't play many minutes, and 2 this year. The first one he had an upset preparation due to injury, the second he made a few silly mistakes. For mine Queensland's biggest problem was when they had NSW on the ropes with 12 men, they didn't get close enough to the defensive line to stop them from sliding from one side of the field to the other. If they could change that they may find more points out wide like they did in the first half. For mine Hunt's play wasn't at the level that after 3 games you would suggest that he should never play Origin again.
Graham
Guest
Yep Copley at homer it'll be the last thing they'd expect :D I meant mcculogh
Adam
Guest
I find it funny that people are using Hunt as the scapegoat for QLD's series loss. Other than 1 kick (silly to kick on the 3rd against 12 men - yes) I would rate Hunt in the top half of performers in a beaten side in both QLD's game I and II. Why is nobody mentioning the times that both Munster and Chambers kicked the ball dead as well? Chambers, Hess, Cooper, Napa, McCullough...I can think of plenty of other passengers they had this series and I believe a whitewash is coming.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Copley? As in Dale Copley? Say whaaaaaaat?
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
Don't get me wrong, Rob. I'm in no way comparing Hunt to any of those players. However, I am comparing the starts of their Origin careers. Smith, Lockyer, Thurston & Slater all went on to be legendary QLD players. But, none of them just came into the QLD team and started dominating. The QLD selection strategy has always been to pick a team where everyone has a part to play. Not necessarily a team of the best players full-stop (or the biggest as has been a NSW selection policy for years). I personally believe Hunt's job in the QLD team is very similar to his role at the Dragons: organise the forwards and kick long. His kicking game needs a bit of improvement (he needs to find grass a bit more often). But, when you have a NSW supporter/journalist saying that after 3 games Hunt should never play Origin again is just bollocks. QLD have had to deal with Thurston & Cronk retiring. Slater being out injured. Cam Smith pulling up stumps weeks out from the first game. We are in a teething period. Hunt has had less than a handful of games. He has to at least be given a full series, or two, before we can call it one way or the other...
Graham
Guest
Taylor munster ponga and copley are my spine for the forseeable future with hunt as utility bench player Morgan is decent but taylor is better
Rob
Guest
Please don’t compare Smithy, Locky, Slater and JT to Ben Hunt. It’s insulting as were babies when selected. For a start Smith won his debut game against NSW 36-6 which was the last game 2003. He lost the 2004 series after a Shaun Timmins Hail Mary field goal. He won 3 out of his first 5 SOO games. That’s a lot different to the picture you are painting I feel.
Rob
Guest
Kicking on the 3rd against a 12 man defence is more good luck than good management.
Muzz
Guest
There's a fine line between hero and villain. Luck plays a big part.
Rob
Guest
Chambers has been very good at Rep level and outside of 2 Origin games against young Mitchell and Ado Carr he’s defence has never been a problem. Hunt hides behind the line like Milford it’s a Broncos defence structure and I’m pretty sure that is exactly the opposite to how Cronk, JT and Munster defend.
Rob
Guest
Sorry but Hunt went missing badly. In game 1 I was very unhappy about Kafusi missing vital tackles and making poor defensive reads with Chambers also struggling. Marking fast physically strong outside backs like Mitchell and Ado C requires getting up fast or keeping a very straight line. I suggest Hunt was causing a lot of the issues by hanging back and also causing a fractured line. When Ponga makes the break where is Hunt? He’s bludging and not supporting is what. He then proceeded to murder a huge over lap with a retreating NSW defence the next play by putting in another dumb kick. Maybe i’m use to watching a half that backs up down the middle or one that takes the smart option against a retreating out numbered defence putting them to the sword. I’m sorry but Billy wasn’t having problems because of Ponga’s involvement. He was probably at 35 and not playing for 4 weeks with a dodgey hamstring starting to be less effective. By the way Slater was the closest to supporting Ponga when he went through but Hunt isn’t in the picture and the bust was right in front of him.
Rob
Guest
Say what. JT is a living God no way is he the same as DCE. Cowboys won’t make the 8 without him. DCE had a chance in SOO and made JT look bad. How he’s payed the same as JT is an abomination just ask JT. LOL
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
I just think it's an injustice to label Hunt with the "never to play in Origin" tag based on 1 series loss. Everyone likes to think that players like Lockyer, Smith, Slater & Thurston all came into the game as legends. And not the other way around, where Origin helped to shape these players. Lockyer played from 1998 winning 2 series, drawing 2 and losing 4 (before the QLD "era"). Smith lost his first 3 series, Slater his first 2 and Thurston lost his first series in a decider at Lang Park. At home! There is going to be a teething period for QLD over the next couple of years. Of that there is no question. Injuries aren't helping at the moment either, but, not even giving a player 1 full series before writing him off is precisely what NSW is renowned for doing. Hunt has waited for his opportunity and although his first series didn't go to plan, there were far more issues than just Ben Hunt not being up to scratch. See; Will Chambers. He has had nearly 3 full series and is still not up to scratch. I don't see game 3 going very well for QLD with the selection of DCE. Has no one been watching Manly this year? He has been diabolical!
Rob
Guest
Exactly. Hunt is 1 year younger than DCE. But Hunt is not up to the job. What age was JT when selected? How many NRL games did he have as a starting 7? Can you name the last 3 halves born and bred west of Brisbane? Where does QLD have an attacking advantage and NSW have a questionable defence? The edges. Who leads the comp in try assists? How many tries are scored of accurate smart kicking in SOO? The selection have been wrong for 2 years. The warning signs where there last year. A. Taylor or DCE a CC and DM medalist were better choices.
PNGBF88
Guest
Game 1 and Game 2, same old kick and hope bomb from Hunt when in Blues red zone. He became Mitchell Pearce incarnate this series, his forwards dominated and threw possession away with his dumb kicks. (if you think QLD forwards were beaten, you didn't watch the games). Hunt utility only and never in the starting team ever, I agree. DCE deserves his shot to cement his claims for now. Saying no to the Broncs will hurt Taylor for more years to come I reckon.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
It's not because Queensland lost that he should never play again. It's because I think he made mistakes during crucial points of the game that suggest that he does not shine in an Origin arena. But that's just my opinion. Say if everything had been the same in Game II and Val had kicked those goals, I still don't think Hunt had a good game.