Time to move on from greats
MAROONS halfback Ben Hunt says he is ready to deliver an Origin I boilover as coach Kevin Walters prepares to unleash Queensland’s new Thurston and Cronk.
Hunt and five-eighth Cameron Munster will combine at Queensland’s scrumbase for the first time in tonight’s State of Origin series opener at the MCG.
The Maroons have been blessed since 2006 with playmakers like Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk leading 11 series wins in the past 12 years.
The representative retirements of Thurston, Cronk and captain Cameron Smith combined with fullback Billy Slater’s late withdrawal and the selection snubbings of Darius Boyd and Matt Scott has signalled a dramatic changing of the guard for the Maroons.
At the helm of the Queensland overhaul will be Hunt and Munster after making their Origin debuts in last year’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.
The at times maligned Hunt has been great for the Dragons after leaving Brisbane, but is yet to fire on the big stage.