Hunt started the year hoping for a crack at the Broncos No 7 jumper.

Now he looms as the Kangaroos’ Four Nations saviour after pivot Cherry-Evans was added to an already overcrowded injury list in Australia’s humbling 30-12 loss to New Zealand in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Cherry-Evans and fellow NRL superstar Greg Inglis (virus) did not take part in the second half as a Shaun Johnson-inspired Kiwi outfit snapped the Kangaroos’ 16-Test winning streak.

Inglis was all but cleared post-match after experiencing dizziness and dehydration at halftime.

However, the Kangaroos will sweat on the outcome of scans on Cherry-Evans ahead of their must-win clash with England in Melbourne on November 2.

But Hunt looks set to be blooded against the Poms after Kangaroos assistant Craig Fitzgibbon expressed concern over Cherry-Evans’ ‘‘unique’’ hip-buttock complaint suffered in the 35th minute.

‘‘It seems to be a rare one they don’t see too often,’’ he said on Sunday.

‘‘It’s a bit early to throw a time frame on.

‘‘But he (physio) said it is quite a unique injury so we will find out more later on.’’

A Kangaroos debut would ensure Hunt’s meteoric rise this year reached new heights.

Thrown the Broncos No 7 jersey this year, the former utility bench player has been a revelation.He finished fifth in the Dally M Medal count and shone for the Prime Minister’s XIII against PNG to become one of 11 new faces in the Four Nations squad.

And Fitzgibbon backed the diminutive 24-year-old to stand tall for the Kangaroos if selected.

‘‘He has had a terrific season,’’ he said. ‘‘(Coach) Tim (Sheens) was very happy with his game in PNG and he trained really well, really fitted in well with the squad.

‘‘He trained well in the halves the last week so that gives him a leg up.’’

Inglis and Cherry-Evans’ second-half no show forced a major backline reshuffle with rookie centre Dylan Walker moved to fullback, bench hooker Robbie Farah to five-eighth and back-row debutant Aidan Guerra to centre.

But Fitzgibbon admitted it had a much greater effect on a line-up without 10 Test incumbents due to injury and suspension.

‘‘Cherry-Evans and Inglis are the sort of blokes who jag something when you are not playing well, come up with a play to get you back in the game,’’ he said.

‘‘You get confidence from those guys.’’

Fitzgibbon refused to place the blame on their five debutants on Saturday night, hinting that they deserved a second chance.

‘‘It’s pretty hard to look at the debutants - we expected everyone to band around them and make their night better,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s disappointing they did not get a win in their first Test.

''Next week we have to get that right, it’s backs to the wall.’’