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How did you come to that conclusion?
Well said I like how you get the message across without saying much .....
Hunt saying that the Dragons have made him a better player, could also equate to Mary making him a better player. lolDragons making me a better player: Hunt
Ben Hunt says playing with the Dragons has made him a more complete player. (AAP)
Ben Hunt has helped turn St George-Illawarra into undefeated NRL ladder leaders, but he says the club has made him a more complete player too.
Queensland State of Origin hopeful Ben Hunt believes his move to St George-Illawarra has made him a more complete player after guiding the Dragons to their undefeated start.
Hunt's immediate influence on the Dragons has easily made him one of the best buys of the NRL season.
Captain Gareth Widdop has grown another leg with Hunt alongside him, while the Dragons' attacking capabilities have virtually doubled with Hunt providing a true alternative option.
Largely forgotten among the myriad of high-profile off-season signings that followed his across the league, Hunt has taken the Dragons to the best attacking record in the competition following their 5-0 start.
But the 28-year-old believes the improvements haven't just been one way, insisting the Dragons' structure has made him a better player than the one who left Brisbane last year.
"I think I've taken a fair while to get to where I am in my career and working on all the little things when I've needed to," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"And coming here I feel like the team dynamic we've got with Gaz and the forwards, I can just play my game now and just worry about what I need to do.
"I think it's completed the way I play my footy."
Hunt played halfback for Queensland in last year's series-winning decider, but Maroons coach Kevin Walters confirmed Cameron Munster and Michael Morgan were the frontrunners to replace Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk as first-choice playmakers this year.
However Hunt could hardly have done more to impress Walters over the opening month of the season.
The ex-Bronco has set up seven tries and four linebreaks for the Dragons, as well as scoring one four-pointer of his own.
"I feel like I have to be in the area," Hunt said.
"There are a few halfbacks going around at the moment who are playing some really good footy, so I just have to leave that up to Kevvie and the selectors."
Source: AAP
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dragons-making-me-a-better-player-hunt
Hunts says that just being in Origin camp helped him the most. I am hoping that we have many players in origin this year and that it helps all of their games and that they come back better players from origin. That will put us in good stead for the semis. Don't worry fans, our players will only be missing for one game against Melbourne and they will be without Smith, Slater and Munster.Ben Hunt firms in race for Maroons jersey
Dragons Den News
Best of enemies: Ben Hunt and Paul Vaughan are in the frame for Queensland and NSW State of Origin selection. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Munoz.
After leading the St George Illawarra Dragons to an unbeaten start to the NRL season, the calls are growing louder for Ben Hunt to step into the vacant Queensland no. seven jersey.
The representative retirement of Cooper Cronk has opened the door for one of a number of emerging Queenslanders to claim the halfback position and while Daly Cherry-Evans and Michael Morgan were expected to lead the race for the spot, it’s been Hunt who has outplayed his rivals.
Hunt has been in sublime form for the Dragons in the first five rounds, guiding the team around the park and controlling matches with his kicking game. His play has been so impressive that Dragons teammate James Graham and Queensland legend Wally Lewis have thrown their support behind the 28-year-old.
“It makes you feel pretty good,” Hunt said of the endorsements. “Obviously everyone knows what Wally’s done in his career and to have someone like that give you a bit of a rap, it gives you goosebumps.
“I sort of feel like I have to be in the area, there’s a few halfbacks going around playing some pretty good footy, I just have to leave that up to Kevvy [Maroons coach Kevin Walters] and the selectors.”
Hunt made his debut off the bench in Origin III last year and it’s an experience he feels helped him develop.
“Just being in camp, that’s what benefits you the most. Being around players that have been there for a long time and you see the things they do and how they train and how hard they work, the effort they put in to get that win.”
Many were quick to criticise the Dragons after they signed the former Broncos half to a five-year, $6 million contract, but he has silenced the doubters.
“It’s taken a fair while to get to where I am in my career, working on a lot of different things when I needed to. Coming here, the team dynamic that we’ve got with Gaz [Gareth Widdop] and our forwards, I can just play my game now and worry about what I need to do. I think it’s completed the way I like to play my footy.”
While in the midst of career-best form, Hunt recognises he still has areas to improve as the Dragons prepare to face Cronulla.
“Game management is definitely something I’m trying to bring here. It’s an aspect of my game I’ve been trying to work on for quite a while now, that kicking game and really managing it well.
“That’s something in the Souths game I thought I didn’t do well. In that second half I was pretty disappointed with my kicking game and how we managed that back end. It’s something I’m trying to bring in to my game.”
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5333867/sublime-start-places-hunt-in-origin-frame/?cs=3713
Yea, but we now have a squad that is far superior to that of the past few years. The question really is would the Dragons be playing even better under a different coach. For me we have to break through the mid season fatigue syndrome this season before I start to sign and dance. We need to peak in September so let's hope we can gain our second wind after SOO and continue on as the front runner.
Ben Hunt firms in race for Maroons jersey
Dragons Den News
Best of enemies: Ben Hunt and Paul Vaughan are in the frame for Queensland and NSW State of Origin selection. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Munoz.
After leading the St George Illawarra Dragons to an unbeaten start to the NRL season, the calls are growing louder for Ben Hunt to step into the vacant Queensland no. seven jersey.
The representative retirement of Cooper Cronk has opened the door for one of a number of emerging Queenslanders to claim the halfback position and while Daly Cherry-Evans and Michael Morgan were expected to lead the race for the spot, it’s been Hunt who has outplayed his rivals.
Hunt has been in sublime form for the Dragons in the first five rounds, guiding the team around the park and controlling matches with his kicking game. His play has been so impressive that Dragons teammate James Graham and Queensland legend Wally Lewis have thrown their support behind the 28-year-old.
“It makes you feel pretty good,” Hunt said of the endorsements. “Obviously everyone knows what Wally’s done in his career and to have someone like that give you a bit of a rap, it gives you goosebumps.
“I sort of feel like I have to be in the area, there’s a few halfbacks going around playing some pretty good footy, I just have to leave that up to Kevvy [Maroons coach Kevin Walters] and the selectors.”
Hunt made his debut off the bench in Origin III last year and it’s an experience he feels helped him develop.
“Just being in camp, that’s what benefits you the most. Being around players that have been there for a long time and you see the things they do and how they train and how hard they work, the effort they put in to get that win.”
Many were quick to criticise the Dragons after they signed the former Broncos half to a five-year, $6 million contract, but he has silenced the doubters.
“It’s taken a fair while to get to where I am in my career, working on a lot of different things when I needed to. Coming here, the team dynamic that we’ve got with Gaz [Gareth Widdop] and our forwards, I can just play my game now and worry about what I need to do. I think it’s completed the way I like to play my footy.”
While in the midst of career-best form, Hunt recognises he still has areas to improve as the Dragons prepare to face Cronulla.
“Game management is definitely something I’m trying to bring here. It’s an aspect of my game I’ve been trying to work on for quite a while now, that kicking game and really managing it well.
“That’s something in the Souths game I thought I didn’t do well. In that second half I was pretty disappointed with my kicking game and how we managed that back end. It’s something I’m trying to bring in to my game.”
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5333867/sublime-start-places-hunt-in-origin-frame/?cs=3713
Mary has told them play what’s in front of you, Wayne controls his players games
Maybe a different coach would not have made a difference after 5 rounds BUT over a full season is where the coach will make a difference:
we will only have origin players missing one this year. why is everyone concerned about it?
