DRAGONS halfback-cum-hooker Ben Hunt admits being shifted the bench is a "demotion" of sorts, but he's willing to reprise his interchange role if it results in more wins for his side.
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Hunt scored a try and laid on another in an unbroken stint at dummy-half after being injected from the bench 22 minutes into the first half.
It followed a pre-kickoff reshuffle that saw Corey Norman shifted from fullback to the halves, with Matt Dufty given his third start of the year at fullback.
Coach Paul McGregor said he'll look at maintaining the approach on a week to week basis, but it appears unlikely he'll change the formula that saw his side win its first game in five outings this season.
Handing over the keys wasn't easy, but Hunt accepted change was inevitable after a disastrous 0-4 start that saw the Dragons fail to score a try in the previous two games.
"When Mary told me about [the shift] I wasn't overly surprised by it," Hunt said.
"I was hopeful it wasn't going to happen but in the end I kind of expected it and was ready for it. I obviously hadn't been playing well and knew that there were probably some changes coming to the side.
"Your first thoughts are it's a bit of a demotion, it is in a way, but I just tried to take it as a different opportunity to help the team out and do my part.
"Things like this have happened to me in the past and I've learned that there's no point sitting around and sooking about it. I just wanted the win more than anything so if it was going to help us get the win I was excited to do it."
The 30-year-old makes no secret of the fact he ultimately would like to return to the No. 7 jumper, but he's happy to keep playing the super-sub role in the interim.
"I'd definitely like to be back in the starting side but, at the moment, if it's going to win us games I don't see why the coach has to make any changes," he said.
"If we're going to get the job done like that then that's how it is and I'll just keep going about my business. I've got some great mates in this team and I see a lot of blokes who were hurting.
"I just wanted to go out and enjoy our footy and bring some enjoyment back to the club. You get a bit more time playing hooker these days with how quick it is in the middle.
"You get and opportunity to pick it up and have a look at what's going on because it's so fast so you can have a bit of gun there."
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Hunt said the move came with the blessing of skipper Cam McInnes, who made an in-game shift to lock and crossed for what the proved the match-winning try midway through the second stanza.
"Cam's the ultimate team player, he just wants to do what it takes to win," Hunt said.
"He's a great competitor and he's in the same boat [as me], he just wants to do what's best for the team, he just wants to win. He's our heart and soul, he brings energy to everything, so he can't come off the field.
"If I come on at nine he has to stay on. He doesn't seem to mind, he might, but he doesn't let anyone know. He just gets the job done."
Norman has escaped suspension for tripping after he was cited for a 71st minute incident involving Sharks winger Hiroti Mawene in which he appeared to lash out with his leg.
He will wear a $750 fine for what was deemed a grade one offence but is not facing any time on the sideline.
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
