HE’S St George Illawarra’s own six million-dollar man, but marquee Dragons recruit Ben Hunt says he’s no stranger to the scrutiny that will no doubt accompany his first season in the red v.
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It’s something the 27-year-old accepts having arrived in Wollongong on one of the longest – and richest – deals for a half in NRL history.
The six-year multi-million-dollar deal, signed prior to the start of the 2017 season, also sent the NRL halves market into a frenzy, ensuring there’ll be no player more under the microscope in 2018.
It means he’ll have to fire from game one – ironically against his former club – but Hunt said that pressure has been par for the course since debuting in 2009.
“I think it’s something that’s come [before] with me being a halfback at the Broncos,” Hunt said.
“You’re in a one team [city], there’s always been a lot of pressure on the Broncos up there and the players that play in the halves. I think I’ve just learned to cop it and just move on.”
His arrival at the Dragons comes on the back of a mixed 2017 campaign that saw him dropped to Queensland Cup by Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.
It led many to question the Dragons faith, only for Hunt return as a No.9 and earn an Origin debut and Test recall by the end of the season.
“Personally I was really happy with the year overall,” Hunt said.
“It was a big roller coaster being in the team, then out of the team, then back in. The way our team was built up there we had a little bit of depth in the halves and not so much in the hooker role.
“When [Bennett] asked me I was happy to do it. We had a couple of good halves and me slotting in there was what was best for the team.
“Getting the opportunity to play some rep footy was the highlight of the year and something I really enjoyed.”
That versatility proved a boost to his representative selection chances, but Hunt insists his top priority on shifting to the Dragons is re-establishing himself as one of the game’s premier No. 7’s.
“Mary [Paul McGregor] told me before I came, and when I first got here, that it’s going to be number seven and that’s where I’ll be playing,” Hunt said.
“We’ve got a pretty good number nine here in Cam [McInnes] and I think he’s earned that spot, he’s been really good there.
“Personally, and as a team, there’s some goals there for us and I want to cement my role here as the number seven and hang onto that.
“It’s what the Dragons have brought me here for, to really lead from the front along with Gareth [Widdop]. That’s what my plan is to really come in and hit the ground running from game one.”
Widdop also re-signed with the Dragons for four more years last season, giving the club unprecedented stability in the halves.
Hunt said the chance to form what could be one of the league’s premier halves combinations with his new skipper is an exciting one.
“It’s was something I was excited about when I first signed with the club, knowing I was going to be playing alongside him,” Hunt said.
“He’s one of the best [halves] in the game. I’m sure the more time we get together, the more we learn about each others’ games, the better it’s going to be for both of us.
“I think we have the squad here to be in the finals so anything less than that would be a disappointment.”