Hunt leading pick for Maroons half

FORMER Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt – the maligned playmaker the Broncos released to keep Anthony Milford – is now the frontrunner for the Queensland No.7 jumper.

Hunt has leapfrogged Cowboys sensation Michael Morgan and Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans in the Origin halfback pecking order following his sizzling start at new club St George Illawarra.

The $6 million man has piloted the unbeaten Dragons to the premiership lead and he has the chance to turn the screws on Morgan and CherryEvans by dominating South Sydney tonight at Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval.

Maroons hierarchy have been impressed by Hunt’s transformation at the Dragons and he only needs to maintain his form to clinch the No.7 jumper for Origin I on June 6.

On the eve of the new season, Maroons selector Darren Lockyer said Cameron Munster and Morgan had the inside running as Queensland’s halves. But Hunt’s form has changed their thinking.

Hunt made his Origin debut last season off the bench in the Suncorp decider, playing just eight minutes.