Ben Hunt -what are you?

[Life's Good]

These are the comments that prompted me to start this thread- He spends 90% of the time talking about being a hooker and how it simplifies his role and then chucks in "but at the end of the day, I'd still like to play halfback"-really?

Sorry to those who think I'm being unfair on Hunt, but if we have a person on huge money playing arguably the toughest position in the team whose heart isn't 100% in it, then we can get used to more defeats in 2019- with or without Mary.

‘....90% of the time talking about being a hooker....’

That’s an incredible exaggeration based on one article.

 

[Brutalitops]

This good for us either way , he can play 7 or 9 if needed , if Mary is smart enough he can mix things up during a game , he has options but then again we are talking about Mary .... Needs to look outside the square at times to keep the opposition in two minds . So having Ben being able to play both positions well , is a bonus ....

I'm pretty sure Ben Hunt actually shifted to hooker at points in games in the first half of 2018 actually. Was usually when Kurt Mann came on

 

[JDHD]

Look, my feelings on Ben Hunt are well documented. I love having him at the Dragons, I think he’s one of the buys of the year, I think he’s an easy target and a scapegoat, and I think that he copped a lot of the criticism that should have been directed at Widdop at club level and McCullough and Munster at Origin level. There were more than a few games this year, both club and rep, where Ben Hunt was playing a lone hand, and got strung up where his spine partners escaped criticism entirely.

Add to that that this is the first season that Hunt and Widdop had ever played together, and you have to assume that they’ll both improve in the coming years.

TL;DR - Hunt is a good hooker and half, but for us he’s a half.

 

[Overseas dragon]

its well documented the media can make you a superstar in one breath,or cut you to ribbons.depending on their mood .i for one am happy hes here and lets see where his coach plays him,any bets boys

 

[TruSaint]

The article as posted on NRL.com is in relation to Hunt's position in the Australian squad, and he has obviously been asked questions to justify his spot.

2 sentences that stand out for me.

"
I don't think I'd be getting selected in some of these sides if I didn't have a bit of versatility. I'm excited to be in there. If you're in the 17 to play for Australia it's pretty special.


"[Mal] has talked to me about it. I've accepted it's a pretty good position for me and if he wants me to play that position I'm going to do the best job I can for him. As a utility, you don't really know what position you're going to play but when he calls me up I'll be ready to go."

and.......

"But at the end of the day, I'd still like to play halfback"..

He's our 7, the club made that clear when they signed him...

Good luck to him if he is versatile enough to play for his country in another position.

 

[Dracarys]

If your missus said “ How about you hold the ladder and I’ll get on the roof!” Would you do it?

 

[denis preston]

I'm talking Saints...

Well why did you put Pongia's name there , now that's just silly.

 

[Fire]

Well why did you put Pongia's name there , now that's just silly.

http://www.tzr.io/yarn-clip/95b43e8f-f49c-4462-b938-7a3f99d487ce

 

[TruSaint]

http://www.tzr.io/yarn-clip/95b43e8f-f49c-4462-b938-7a3f99d487ce

LMAO..... v good

 

[WepnutV]

This good for us either way , he can play 7 or 9 if needed , if Mary is smart enough he can mix things up during a game , he has options but then again we are talking about Mary .... Needs to look outside the square at times to keep the opposition in two minds . So having Ben being able to play both positions well , is a bonus ....

most halfbacks have a roll to play from dummy half at certain times in a game.. you think this has not been thought off or something? And redandwhite4eva i partly agree with you.. i think if ben hunt wants to swap positions and play hooker for us then he should pack his bags and play elswhere.. but ehh i think in this case he has done nothing wrong and probably lead the story on a bit to combat negative stories about him or the club..

 

[possm]

most halfbacks have a roll to play from dummy half at certain times in a game.. you think this has not been thought off or something? And redandwhite4eva i partly agree with you.. i think if ben hunt wants to swap positions and play hooker for us then he should pack his bags and play elswhere.. but ehh i think in this case he has done nothing wrong and probably lead the story on a bit to combat negative stories about him or the club..

When I had my business, if an engineer came to me and wanted to transfer to a lessor position, I would allow it on the condition he took the relevant pay cut.

So if Hunt wants hooker he needs to take a 300k pay cut, we then need to time it for when McInnes's contract is up and when a top grade halfback is able to be signed.

So in my opinion it won't happen.

 

[BLM01]

When I had my business, if an engineer came to me and wanted to transfer to a lessor position, I would allow it on the condition he took the relevant pay cut.

So if Hunt wants hooker he needs to take a 300k pay cut, we then need to time it for when McInnes's contract is up and when a top grade halfback is able to be signed.

So in my opinion it won't happen.

Agree

 

[SEAT 1A]

The article as posted on NRL.com is in relation to Hunt's position in the Australian squad, and he has obviously been asked questions to justify his spot.

2 sentences that stand out for me.

"
I don't think I'd be getting selected in some of these sides if I didn't have a bit of versatility. I'm excited to be in there. If you're in the 17 to play for Australia it's pretty special.


"[Mal] has talked to me about it. I've accepted it's a pretty good position for me and if he wants me to play that position I'm going to do the best job I can for him. As a utility, you don't really know what position you're going to play but when he calls me up I'll be ready to go."

and.......

"But at the end of the day, I'd still like to play halfback"..

He's our 7, the club made that clear when they signed him...

Good luck to him if he is versatile enough to play for his country in another position.

Our elite number seven has been given an Australian jumper and the press still needs to question why.

Of cause playing for your country is special, congratulations Ben and hope you can laugh off the fools.

 

[WepnutV]

When I had my business, if an engineer came to me and wanted to transfer to a lessor position, I would allow it on the condition he took the relevant pay cut.

So if Hunt wants hooker he needs to take a 300k pay cut, we then need to time it for when McInnes's contract is up and when a top grade halfback is able to be signed.

So in my opinion it won't happen.

Yep. I agree with that

 

[TruSaint]

Our elite number seven has been given an Australian jumper and the press still needs to question why.

Of cause playing for your country is special, congratulations Ben and hope you can laugh off the fools.

Nailed it.

 

[ouryears]

Nailed it.

Elite?
Yeah right

 

[TruSaint]

Elite?
Yeah right

My reply was in support of SEAT 1A's post as to the Hunts role in the Aussie team as opposed to ours.

Maybe "elite" is very complimentary in terms of other available 7's, but in our squad he would be OUR elite 7. Please tell who takes his place in OUR squad.?

He is our best 7 by a country mile, so for us Dragons fans, he is our elite seven.

From our current squad, please suggest a replacement for Ben at half ..

 

[muzby]

Elite?
Yeah right

- state of origin rep
- Australian rep
- the one main difference in our roster that took us from also-rans to title contenders

If that’s not elite, what is...? You?

 

[ouryears]

- state of origin rep
- Australian rep
- the one main difference in our roster that took us from also-rans to title contenders

If that’s not elite, what is...? You?

I judge what I see, he is ok, not elite.
Elite is a long term high performer
That he is not.

Be a tougher judge, not a PC
Elite players don’t get dropped from the team to play off the bench
Nor do they f..k up last grasp plays in a final

 

[Fire]

Elite players don’t get dropped from the team to play off the bench
Nor do they f..k up last grasp plays in a final

Unfortunately, I agree.

Teddy Atlas speaking on Mike Tyson sums it up pretty well in the video below (and I think the same argument can be made re: Ben Hunt).


Each time Hunt's been put to the test he's come up short.

In saying that, he's only 28, and he can turn it around and I sincerely hope he does turn it around.

The sports psychologist is a good start, but sooner or later you have to stop thinking/talking and simply start doing.

God I wish there was someone better than Mary mentoring him.

I hope Benjamin well...