Bennett insists Broncos halfback ready for decider

NRL BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett insists Ben Hunt could handle an Origin debut in the Suncorp Stadium decider after reinstating his sacked playmaker for tonight’s blockbuster against Melbourne.

Bennett has warned the next month will be a finals audition for his halves after the coach yesterday showed no mercy, axing Kodi Nikorima from the starting side for the Storm showdown in Brisbane.

If anyone can feel Nikorima’s pain, it is Hunt, who just three weeks ago was sensationally dumped to feeder-club Ipswich in the Intrust Super Cup after struggling in his return from a hamstring injury.

But after a scintillating display off the bench against Canberra last week, Hunt is back in favour, with the Dragonsbound $6 million man to start in the halves tonight alongside Benji Marshall.

The Queensland team for Origin III is named Monday and Hunt can submit an irresistible case for selection by outpointing Maroons rival Cooper Cronk tonight at Suncorp, the venue for the decider.

Coach Kevin Walters is considering blooding Hunt in the Queensland No. 14 jumper and Bennett says his relegation to Ipswich should not be a black mark against his name.

“If Ben gets the opportunity (to make his Origin debut) he will do the job,” Bennett said.

“If they play in the NRL with two or three seasons behind them, they are ready. Ben has had more than 150 games in the NRL, so you can’t get much more ready than that.

“Ipswich turned him around, he’s going good.”

Bennett then hinted at Queensland legend Allan Langer’s stunning Origin debut in 1987 when he was plucked from Ipswich, saying with a wry grin: “There’s been more than one player coming from Ipswich to play Origin.”

With first-choice pivot Anthony Milford due to return from injury in the next two or three weeks, Hunt, Nikorima and Marshall will wage a three-way shootout for the No. 7 jumper.

Nikorima will return to the interchange bench tonight.