Family, NFL and Corey Norman: Why a revitalised Ben Hunt is primed for the 2019 NRL season
Dragons
Ben Hunt says he's more equipped to handle whatever rugby league throws at him in 2019.Source: FOX SPORTS
Rugby league threw plenty at Ben Hunt last year.
As St George Illawarra’s marquee recruit, the star halfback had to endure a mountain of unfair criticism which affected him to the point where he sought the help of a mental health professional.
The carping critics even prompted Hunt’s wife, Bridget, to leap to her husband’s defence via social media, warning them of the affects constant criticism can have.
But for all the negativity, there’s no denying Hunt was a key reason why the Red V returned to finals football for the first time since 2015 — and won their first finals game since the 2010 Grand Final.
Now, after experiencing what he describes as one of his “toughest patches”, Hunt believes he’s better equipped to mentally handle whatever comes his way as he looks to take the Dragons further in his second season wearing the famous jumper.
“Personally, I feel like I’ve gotten on top of everything that’s come at me so far,” Hunt told
League Life’s Lara Pitt.
“Before last year I thought I was pretty well on top of it and had everything under control, but rugby league and life throw you different challenges all the time and new things come up.
“I think there’s never going to be enough learning or education about mental health.
“I definitely think I’m better equipped.”
Ben Hunt (right) experienced a roller coaster 2018 season.Source: AAP
Hunt had a dream start to his time at the Dragons with the side winning an impressive nine of their first 11 games.
The 28-year-old was selected in the Queensland Origin side at halfback, and it was when he was dropped to the bench for game three for some poor playmaking decisions, his confidence started to wane.
The Dragons limped towards the finals while Gareth Widdop was sidelined with a shoulder injury and Hunt copped a lot of the blame.
“I went through probably one of the toughest patches I’ve been in,” Hunt said.
“I found different ways away from football to clear my mind and completely get away from rugby league and freshen the mind up and come back and enjoy what I was doing.
“It seems like a lot of coaches are trying to drill that into their players at the moment. They really want you to get away from footy when you’re not training or playing and enjoy time with your family or whatever you enjoy doing.”
So what’s the Maroons star’s outlet away from football?
2018 was a year of highs and lows for Ben Hunt.Source: AAP
“Mainly my family at the moment, enjoying their company,” Hunt said.
“Moving down to Sydney we didn’t have any family and left a lot of friends at home.
“And mainly the NFL season, that’s something I really enjoy. That came around at a good time in the off-season … I’m a Patriots fan.
“Everyone gets into me that I’m a bandwagoner. I did start supporting them because were good, but I also started following them because they used to be the team I’d play with in Madden on PlayStation.
“After that I started watching NFL and I started supporting them.”
Hunt will form a new halves combination at the Dragons in 2019 alongside recruit Corey Norman, with Widdop shifting to fullback.
The duo are well acquainted, however, having played together at Brisbane, but only once did they play together in the halves at NRL level before Norman joined Parramatta.
When Hunt found out the Dragons were targeting Norman, he backed the club’s plans, urging them to look beyond his chequered history.
Corey Norman will link up again withSource: Getty Images
“He’s just a quality footballer,” Hunt said.
“No matter what position, the more good footballers you can get in your club the better you’re going to be.
“He’s played a few different positions in his time and every time he’s done that I thought he’s played really well.
“Personally, I thought I could gel with him really well and I know Gareth can chime in with him well also.”
While Hunt said his role won’t change in the No.7, he believed the addition of Norman to the backline with Widdop would only make the side more lethal.
“My role will be similar at halfback steering us around the field,” Hunt said.
“Between those two, they’re really similar players in that either can play fullback or five-eighth and chime in.
“So between the three of us, you’re going to have a better mix of rotating around the field and combining with each other, rather than having a designated half or five-eighth on either side of the field.”
Despite the NRL standing down of Jack de Belin, the premiership window is wide open for the Red V in 2019 — and the side will be desperate to deliver knowing this is Widdop’s final season before he joins Warrington next year.
“It’s definitely a huge opportunity,” Hunt said.
“Getting Corey on-board is a massive boost for us.
“But if we really want to push for something, this is the prime year to do it.
“If we have a bit of luck with injuries and keep a good team together, I think we’ve got a pretty handy squad.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/0595a34a10ae9922d8d1654bd1cb5d2a
