After having nine halves partners since arriving in Wollongong in 2014, it’s with confidence Gareth Widdop believes Ben Hunt has barely even begun to unleash the Dragons’ attacking potential.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hunt setup one try and scored another in the 34-12 demolition of Brisbane in his Dragons debut, while Widdop threw two majestic passes to complete the demolition job.
The only try neither had a hand in came when Jack de Belin caught the Brisbane defence flat-footed and barged his way over. De Belin was one of the eight halves to start a game alongside Widdop since he joined the club from Melbourne, including three – Michael Witt, Sam Williams and Adam Quinlan – in the first five games he played in the Red V.
So while fans have only had their first taste of the Widdop-Hunt combination, the captain admits to feeling a new freedom on the field alongside a dominant halfback.
“We’ve got a No.7 who’s going to be here for a while now, he’s here for another six years,” Widdop said on Monday at WIN Stadium.
“I think we’ve had (eight) different halfbacks, chopping and changing, whereas now we’ve signed Benny, who’s a traditional halfback.
“We know he’s going to be there, my focus is very simple, to do my job for the team and he does his.”
Widdop said rather than his assists for the right-sided duo Euan Aitken and Jason Nightingale being set plays, they were the result of a dominant forward pack and a new-found licence to roam.
“Having Ben there has freed me up a little bit, to run around the field,” he said.
“I’ve just found myself in that position to thankfully score a few tries.”
Hunt’s next assignment comes against 2016 premiers the Sharks, another team widely considered to be a finals threat come September, despite their opening round loss to North Queensland.
It will be the first time Sharks recruit Josh Dugan will play against the Dragons, since he left Canberra for Wollongong in 2013.
Widdop ruled out giving Dugan any special attention on Thursday, even if he starts in the No.1 jersey.
“We all know Dugan’s a talent,” Widdop said.
“He can play a number of positions.
“… We won’t put too much focus into any individuals, it;s about ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Broncos prop Jayden Su’a took a one-game suspension for an off-the-ball shoulder charge which shook Paul Vaughan.
Su’a took the early guilty plea.
TWO TO TANGO
Widdop’s halves partners since joining St George Illawarra in 2014
Michael Witt
Sam Williams
Adam Quinlan
Benji Marshall
Drew Hutchison
Jack de Belin
Josh McCrone
Kurt Mann
Ben Hunt
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
