Ben’s hunt is on for Kangaroos jersey ahead of Four Nations tournament Chris Garry The Courier-Mail October 12, 2014 12:00AM IT WAS the prolonged positional switch Ben Hunt’s father said was a sign his son should leave the Broncos, now the star halfback’s four years as a hooker is set to have him fitted for a Kangaroos jersey. The Sunday Mail can reveal the newly minted Broncos player of the year is likely to be included in Tim Sheens’ Four Nations squad on Tuesday. Hunt had an outstanding season, becoming just the sixth player in NRL history to make more than 20 line breaks and 20 try-assists in one year. Hunt needs a strong performance for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea in Kokopo this afternoon to cement his place. In a strange twist of fate, Anthony Griffin’s decision to make Hunt bide his time as an interchange hooker, despite howls of protest to give him the No.7 jersey, has made him an ideal bench weapon for the Kangaroos. With Johnathan Thurston out of the Four Nations through injury, Daly Cherry-Evans and Cooper Cronk are set to be first choice halves with Mitchell Pearce and Ben Hunt battling to be the back up half. Pearce can only play halfback but Hunt’s years at hooker proved he could be a legitimate interchange option for the Kangaroos. Sheens will name a 24-man squad on Tuesday. There are 12 World Cup players missing through injury meaning he will name several debutants. “We haven’t taken Ben away to play him for no reason,” Sheens told The Sunday Mail. “The fact he plays hooker gives him versatility too which helps him. “I don’t want to put anymore pressure on him than he would already put on himself. “He had a very good season though.” Hunt’s 2014 will be remembered as one of the greatest individual seasons in Broncos history. He scored 13 tries, made 25 try-assists (second to Johnathan Thurston) and 23 linebreaks (second to Jarryd Hayne). He made a classy acceptance speech when receiving the Paul Morgan Medal for the best Broncos player at Friday night’s awards ceremony. He went out of his way to thank Anthony Griffin and later told said he would always remember that Griffin gave him his start. “When I first came to the club in 2008, in the under-20s he taught me so much even from then,” Hunt said. “He gave me the opportunity and I will never forget it. “Everyone dreams of playing for the Kangaroos and if I get that opportunity I will make the most of it.” Griffin made his own classy speech on Friday night and promised he would never disrespect the Broncos. “Unfortunately we weren’t consistent enough to get where we wanted to be but no one can deny the quality of football you played this year,” Griffin said. “You managed to overcome a number of challenges that are well documented that our club had to overcome this year. “A lessor group would have crumbled under the pressure. “I wish you every success in the future. I know it will be a great era for you coming up.”
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 02:08:11 +0000