Andrew Johns questions Dragons' recruitment of Ben Hunt as pressure rises

[muzby]

@Old Timer are you even aware what the topic of debate is anymore?

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Yep Hunt may or may not ultimately be seen to be a mistake, especially given the money we paid, but we will see. He certainly has not delivered consistently, but not having a half for the previous four or five years made the Club desperate and we paid massive overs. I guess that is the true legacy of Price and MacGregor, they have created a Club that few people want to come to, and also one that some don’t want to stay at.

The lasting impression I was left with after the win over the Titans was there was only person on the pitch worth $1.2 million a season and it wasn't Ben Hunt. Widdop was masterful- the left footed grubber back across his body for the try assist was a gem. His goal kicking seems to have gone to another level as well. Norman isn't a patch on him.

 

[thebigredv]

I have a question.

How many poor games can you have until, actually, you are just not a very good player?

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. That's how I feel about our halves, or maybe its just the Mary factor.

Can the more-than-million-dollar-man please step up against the Panthers?

 

[Dragsters]

I have a question.

How many poor games can you have until, actually, you are just not a very good player?

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. That's how I feel about our halves, or maybe its just the Mary factor.

Can the more-than-million-dollar-man please step up against the Panthers?

Me thinks you may be on the right track regarding the coach.

Anyhow, I reckon the less-than-million-dollar-man will come good again.

Norman, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about...

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Haven’t we gone down this road already?

Give Hunt two things:

1. a consistent five-eighth and,

2. a much better coach

Then, ask this question again.

BTW, I value Peter Stirling’s opinion over Johns’.

 

[blue bags]

hunt can pay 5-8

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Haven’t we gone down this road already?

Give Hunt two things:

1. a consistent five-eighth and,

2. a much better coach

Then, ask this question again.

BTW, I value Peter Stirling’s opinion over Johns’.

With your first point, I actually tend to think it's the other way around.

He needs a consistent halfback next to him to game manage and take the pressure off him so he can play his natural game, which is obviously a ball runner and an opportunist. Hence why he does so well at hooker.

Hunt is many things, but a game-managing halfback isn't one of them.

 

[thebigredv]

With your first point, I actually tend to think it's the other way around.

He needs a consistent halfback next to him to game manage and take the pressure off him so he can play his natural game, which is obviously a ball runner and an opportunist. Hence why he does so well at hooker.

Hunt is many things, but a game-managing halfback isn't one of them.

This has merit, I never really thought of him as a 6 but I could see that really working.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

This has merit, I never really thought of him as a 6 but I could see that really working.

Hunt is at his best when he doesn't have to make something happen every play or manage a team.

Don't get me wrong, when he has a good game he's one of the better halves going around, but he's an instinctual player who shines when he can pick his time to strike.
That sounds like a 5/8 to me.

 

[Dragonsamy]

hunt can pay 5-8

Absolutely and then you to play Clune at number 7 who has probably the best Kicking game in the club.

 

[True_Believer]

Absolutely and then you to play Clune at number 7 who has probably the best Kicking game in the club.

Not convinced with that. Clune looks like a very similar player so again you have nobody controlling the team. Worth a shot but I get the feeling that the Clune/Hunt combination will just be replicating the issues of past years.

 

[st.phil]

hunt is the only player creating opportunities for us - everyone knows norman is zero threat

 

[Dragonsamy]

Not convinced with that. Clune looks like a very similar player so again you have nobody controlling the team. Worth a shot but I get the feeling that the Clune/Hunt combination will just be replicating the issues of past years.

You may be right but at least clune puts in 100% every time.
Not as skillful as Norman but he will put in.
Norman goes missing to much.
I have seen clune do it in CC so give him a go.

 

[Dragonsamy]

hunt is the only player creating opportunities for us - everyone knows norman is zero threat

Correct Norman has nothing

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

hunt can pay 5-8

He has never been an organizing halfback. That is the main problem.
Clune at half back and Hunt at 5/8 may be the tonic.

 

[The Rosco]

As an outsider . . . I wouldn't play Hunt alongside someone who's surname starts with C.
If they fail together, we all know what the combination will be called.
In other news, LOL@SOUFFS

 

[muzby]

hunt can pay 5-8

Nah, he’s too slow to be a winger and to small to be a prop.

 

[denis preston]

Hunt is at his best when he doesn't have to make something happen every play or manage a team.

Don't get me wrong, when he has a good game he's one of the better halves going around, but he's an instinctual player who shines when he can pick his time to strike.
That sounds like a 5/8 to me.

Well, Norman has taken on that role to the extent he doesn't have to make anything happen almost every play. Hunt has his value but Norman is sooo disappointing, particularly considering the money we are paying him.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Well, Norman has taken on that role to the extent he doesn't have to make anything happen almost every play. Hunt has his value but Norman is sooo disappointing, particularly considering the money we are paying him.

It's frustrating because i've seen Norman single-handedly rip teams apart with his kicking game (against us Rd 2, 2018 for example) and that's an area that Hunt lacks.

Someone like Mitchell Pearce would be perfect for Hunt.

 

[redv13]

Well, Norman has taken on that role to the extent he doesn't have to make anything happen almost every play. Hunt has his value but Norman is sooo disappointing, particularly considering the money we are paying him.

For the reported 900k a season Norman has been extremely poor. Hunt gets blasted every time things go wrong but Norman pffft cmon champion. One of the most disappointing signings over the last decade and is not pulling his weight at all. Wish I could earn 18k a week to do jack shit