The marquee signing.
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The $6 million man.
The Dragons’ great hope, even if he limped off in a crushing loss to a Penrith outfit featuring the NSW halves duo Nathan Cleary and James Maloney.
Well, sorry Ben Hunt, for the next couple of months you’re public enemy No.1.
Dragons fans love what you’ve done with the place since arriving, taking the team to the top of the NRL ladder, or at least a share of after the Panthers loss.
But the Illawarra is also rugby league and Blues heartland – so we don’t take kindly to that Maroons jumper you’ll be wearing and the more than decade-long oppression we’ve had to endure. On Monday, Queensland coach Kevin Walters dismissed whispers about Hunt being used at halfback, instead acknowledging his irresistible Dragons form and handing the ex-Broncos playmaker the No.7 jersey.
Hunt is now the commander-in-chief of leading Queensland beyond the Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston era, as NSW hope the nightmare of losing 11 of the past 12 series is over.
Hunt suffered a thigh cork and struggled before coming off early as Penrith beat the Dragons 28-2 in the top-of-the-table showdown.
“I’m very confident he’ll be right,” Walters said.
“We’ve had some conversations with Ben. Obviously he’s got a bit of work in front of him to get his injury right. It’s some sort of cork.
“I’ve really liked working with Ben when I was at the Broncos. I can see the skill level and the desire in Ben to become a really good halfback. We’ve seen that progression, especially this year at the Dragons and I expect that to continue at the next level for Queensland.”
While Brad Fittler was announcing huge changes in Sydney, Walters was also prepared to reward form by naming Valentine Holmes on the wing and dumping 2010 Dragons Clive Churchill Medal winner Darius Boyd, as well as Test prop Matt Scott.
Tyson Frizell will start on the right edge for NSW, with Jack de Belin named at lock and Paul Vaughan on the bench. Second-rower Tariq Sims has been chosen as 18th man, with Canberra’s Nick Cotric 19th man.
Hooker Cameron McInnes missed out, as Fittler went for Helensburgh’s Damien Cook, who becomes one of the great State of Origin stories, after playing just a handful of games at the Dragons and Bulldogs, before making his name at the Rabbitohs, when chosen ahead of former NSW No.9 Robbie Farah.