Maroons’ new Alf
MAROONS bolter Ben Hunt will channel the competitive fire of his hero, legend Allan Langer, as he braces for the Origin debut he feared had passed him by.
The Dragons-bound $6 million man will complete one of the greatest comebacks in NRL history when he runs out in the Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night.
Just a month ago there were fears Hunt had played his final game for the Broncos after being axed by coach Wayne Bennett and dispatched to feeder club Ipswich in the Intrust Super Cup.
Now Hunt is a bona fide Maroon who will become Queensland’s 193rd Origin player when, as the No.14 utility, he is pitchforked into the fray before 52,000 fans.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters has come under fire for blooding Hunt at the expense of Daly Cherry-Evans and the Broncos playmaker admits even he lost hope in his darkest hours at Ipswich.
“There’s been a lot of times that I thought I would never make Origin,” Hunt said.
“When I wasn’t playing the best footy and even getting dropped this year, things go through your mind.
“You always have those bad thoughts where you think, ‘Is this it? Am I never going to get to that level?’.
“It changed for me a couple of days after Wayne gave me the message (he was dropped) that I need to get a positive attitude. I definitely didn’t think (his debut) would be this close.
“I’ve played in front of a few big crowds at Suncorp and a grand final, but nothing will match what this game will be like come next Wednesday.
“I will try to prepare as best as I can.”
Hunt wasn’t even born when Langer, Queensland’s greatest halfback, made his Origin debut 30 years ago.
It was a shock of similar proportions. Langer was the diminutive 68kg half plucked from obscurity at Ipswich.
Langer played the last of his 34 Origin games in 2002, the year Hunt was spotted as a 12-year-old by legendary Broncos scout Cyril Connell.
“Alfie Langer was a big hero of mine,” said Hunt, who last week got a strong Origin endorsement from Langer.
“I loved that Alfie was a little competitor, he was never the biggest guy on the field, but everything he did ... he was a fierce competitor.”