Maligned St George Illawarra halfback Ben Hunt says he has contemplated making a permanent switch to the hooker role.
Lured by the Dragons on a $6 million deal as a star halfback, Hunt said he had finally embraced his utility value and would be comfortable playing dummy half in the NRL next year.
Hunt will get a chance to impress at hooker for the Prime Minister’s XIII clash with PNG at Port Moresby on Saturday.
Hunt may have been troubled by well-documented social media criticism this year but it was advice closer to home that really made an impact on the playmaker after the State of Origin series.
The Dragons No.7 said his wife got in his ear about making the switch to hooker permanent after impressing at dummy half off the bench for Queensland in Origin III.
“My wife has told me a few times ‘why don’t you play hooker you seem to go alright there’,” Hunt laughed.
Hunt – who has also been picked as a bench utility for the Kangaroos’ Tests against New Zealand and Tonga this month – said his preference was halfback.
But asked if he wanted to play hooker in the NRL, Hunt said: “I have had a fair bit of thought about it since the last Origin.
“Every time I have had an opportunity to play there I think I have played pretty well.
“Wherever the coach wants to play me whether it is half or hooker I am happy to play there.
“I have learned to live with the fact I can play hooker pretty well so if they want me to play there I will play it but at the end of the day I would still like to play halfback.”
Just what the Dragons think about it is unclear, though the club does already have one of the better hookers in the competition playing for them in Cameron McInnes.
In the first year of his marquee Dragons deal, Hunt was the scapegoat for the club’s late season fadeout and copped social media heat that got so bad his wife Bridget publicly hit out at the “despicable bullying”.
Hunt again bore the brunt of trolls for his ill-fated decision to run the ball on the final play in the dying moments of the Dragons’ semi-final loss.
This time Hunt was blissfully oblivious.
“Throughout the middle of the year I think I did a bit (get distracted by social media),” Hunt said.
“But the last month I’ve got away from social media and stuck to the people I trust and what they have to say.”
Hunt will travel with the PM’s XIII to PNG on Thursday.
Sam Sparrow
Guest
Dear Mr Hunt. We already have a Gun Hooker in McIness and coming through (and ready to be utility for 2019 with Mann needed back at Wing to replace Nene) young Reece Robson who is already the gun hooker of the ISP. We just need you to be a great half-back. Focus on that . We don't care where you play for QLD and Hookers are easier to find. nobody is going to pay $1.2 Million pa for a hooker.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
Yeah just stick to the role you were brought to for the Dragons Hooker at 1m per year over McInnes? God no
Phil
Guest
That's nice of Missus Hunt to give Ben some emotive support. It appears there are others that fancy him as a hooker also, especially in the rep teams but coming back to club footy it's what the coach says that goes. I doubt very much McGregor will move him from No7 unless there is an injury to the very talented McInness. Having said that there is an age old saying in RL, don't weaken one position to strengthen another.
Paul
Roar Guru
In years gone by, the really good half backs would occasionally duck into dummy half, especially late in the half when the big guys were tiring and this is something Hunt should bring to his game. It's great to see Hunt's wife being supportive and she obviously means well, but this guy still has a lot to give as a half and maybe he should have a chat to a few other astute judges to see what they think.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ben Hunt wants to play hooker because his missus thinks it might be a good idea...? I wonder what Mary thinks...? He’s got a hooker that was in the frame for Origin selection and a halfback on 1.2M a season who’s going public about changing positions based on his wife’s feedback. If Hunt’s wife doesn’t want to see him bullied any more she has a funny way of going about it.
farqueue
Roar Rookie
What a pointless article...the dragons have a half back who can play hooker as well...they also have an excellent hooker that can't play half back....I wonder what they will do..