Dragon won't run out of puff if plonked in middle of Origin pack
Christian NicolussiMay 23, 2019 — 6.51pm
The Dragons will try to avoid a fifth straight defeat at WIN Stadium against bitter rivals Cronulla on Sunday afternoon before the representative season kicks in.
Dragon not out of puff: Ben Hunt is confident he'll survive playing hooker for Queensland and then back up for the Dagons.Credit:AAP Image/Darren England
Given their sluggish start to the season, the Dragons will need their big guns like Hunt to stand up in the back half of the season.
Hunt played halfback for the Maroons the first two games last year, but should he get the nod to wear the No. 9 jersey as expected this series will be expected to make upwards of 40 tackles a game.
The 29-year-old backed himself to get through the workload on the biggest stage - and was just as confident about standing up for the Dragons against the Sharks.
"In the past I didn't think I would have been able to do it [play 80 minutes at hooker], but when I played No. 9 at Broncos, there were eight or 10 games or something like that, I found ways to stay in the game and be able to defend in the middle for 80 minutes," Hunt said. "I'm feeling pretty confident now I can do that.
"[Fatigue] is something the club looked at after Origin last year. We were in a lot better position this time last year. Resting players and finding ways to work around Origin when players are getting burnt out or a bit more fatigued, getting rested at training, I'll leave it to club to handle that and I'm sure we'll work it out."
Hunt said he had spoken with Queensland coach Kevin Walters, but it was more about little things he could improve on.
The Red V's top money-earner has not been helped with injuries to Gareth Widdop and Corey Norman, and blamed himself for not taking more control last Sunday in the heavy loss against Newcastle.
Hunt said it was not yet doom and gloom at the Dragons, and ''apart from last week, we've shown we can play good footy in periods of games".
"We just need to do it consistently," Hunt said. "We need to change attitude little bit to certain things and we'll be fine.
"The last couple of weeks there's been more pressure on myself and I don't think I've played as well as I've needed to play, especially against the Knights. I was disappointed with that first half and a couple of things I did I let the team down.
"Where the team is now, I need to put my hand up and be better in those situations.
"In that first half, we were behind by a few points, I felt like I was trying to do too much - I was looking for the wrong play rather than keeping it simple and sticking to the game plan."
Coach Paul McGregor has wielded the axe and Matt Dufty makes way for Zac Lomax gets his chance to start in his preferred No. 1 role.
Hunt will look to nail down his Maroons spot while Dragons forwards Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell are set to be picked for NSW.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...in-middle-of-origin-pack-20190523-p51qku.html
Christian NicolussiMay 23, 2019 — 6.51pm
- Send via Email
The Dragons will try to avoid a fifth straight defeat at WIN Stadium against bitter rivals Cronulla on Sunday afternoon before the representative season kicks in.
Dragon not out of puff: Ben Hunt is confident he'll survive playing hooker for Queensland and then back up for the Dagons.Credit:AAP Image/Darren England
Given their sluggish start to the season, the Dragons will need their big guns like Hunt to stand up in the back half of the season.
Hunt played halfback for the Maroons the first two games last year, but should he get the nod to wear the No. 9 jersey as expected this series will be expected to make upwards of 40 tackles a game.
The 29-year-old backed himself to get through the workload on the biggest stage - and was just as confident about standing up for the Dragons against the Sharks.
"In the past I didn't think I would have been able to do it [play 80 minutes at hooker], but when I played No. 9 at Broncos, there were eight or 10 games or something like that, I found ways to stay in the game and be able to defend in the middle for 80 minutes," Hunt said. "I'm feeling pretty confident now I can do that.
"[Fatigue] is something the club looked at after Origin last year. We were in a lot better position this time last year. Resting players and finding ways to work around Origin when players are getting burnt out or a bit more fatigued, getting rested at training, I'll leave it to club to handle that and I'm sure we'll work it out."
Hunt said he had spoken with Queensland coach Kevin Walters, but it was more about little things he could improve on.
The Red V's top money-earner has not been helped with injuries to Gareth Widdop and Corey Norman, and blamed himself for not taking more control last Sunday in the heavy loss against Newcastle.
Hunt said it was not yet doom and gloom at the Dragons, and ''apart from last week, we've shown we can play good footy in periods of games".
"We just need to do it consistently," Hunt said. "We need to change attitude little bit to certain things and we'll be fine.
"The last couple of weeks there's been more pressure on myself and I don't think I've played as well as I've needed to play, especially against the Knights. I was disappointed with that first half and a couple of things I did I let the team down.
"Where the team is now, I need to put my hand up and be better in those situations.
"In that first half, we were behind by a few points, I felt like I was trying to do too much - I was looking for the wrong play rather than keeping it simple and sticking to the game plan."
Coach Paul McGregor has wielded the axe and Matt Dufty makes way for Zac Lomax gets his chance to start in his preferred No. 1 role.
Hunt will look to nail down his Maroons spot while Dragons forwards Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell are set to be picked for NSW.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dr...in-middle-of-origin-pack-20190523-p51qku.html
