When it comes to the rollercoaster of life as an NRL playmaker, St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt has been on every ride in the amusement park.
From the Honeymoon period when the halfback was first linked with the Dragons in 2018 and piloted the Red V to the top of the NRL ladder and into the finals, Hunt has also experienced the emptiness of wearing the brunt of the blame for St George Illawarra’s abject failures.
One thing you can’t help admire about the tough little no. 7 from Rockhampton in Queensland, he always fronts up and shoots straight.
So when you ask him whether St George Illawarra’s season last year was a pass or a fail, Hunt doesn’t try and sugar coat it.
“I still think it was a fail last year. We didn’t make the finals and you need to get into the finals to be even close to a pass mark,” Hunt told Fox Sports.
“The biggest thing for me last year was our discipline. Last year we had way too many penalties and errors in our games. You just can’t do that if you want to be a competitive side.
“There were lots of reasons why we didn’t end up in the finals but for me there’s no doubt the main thing that we need to clear up is our discipline.”
It’s no secret St George Illawarra’s season fell to pieces off the back of the BBQ-gate backlash last year when the club fell in a hole and failed to win a single game in the aftermath.
The Dragons eight game losing streak to finish the season meant they ended up winning eight games and losing 16 for 2021.
Hunt did his best to try and lead the club out of the mess but with players suspended and others refusing to sign waivers it decimated the Dragons’ roster and morale.
A broken arm in round 20 meant Hunt missed the last five games – effectively ending the Dragons’ season.
This year, it’s a completely new-look St George Illawarra side.
With a blueprint aimed at adding fire power to the club’s forward pack St George Illawarra have signed new recruits Jadyn Su’A, Francis Molo, Aaron Woods and George Burgess to the Red V engine room.
They’ve also added strike in the centres in Moses Suli and a quality utility in Moses Mbye.
Despite the roster overhaul, the bookmakers are still writing the Dragons off.
They’ve got them listed alongside Wests Tigers as favourites for the wooden spoon.
“That feels a bit harsh,” Hunt said. “I’m pretty sure they had us favourites last year as well and they missed out on that one. Look, they’ve got to have their markets.
Entering the fifth season of a six-year deal, Hunt reaffirmed his commitment to the Red V irrespective of the emergence of the NRL’s 17th team the Redcliffe Dolphins in his home state of Queensland.
And no one can question his toughness or commitment to the after the no. 7 played on with a broken bone in his leg in round three against Manly and a broken arm against Souths in round 21.
Hunt, 31, also confirmed he will continue to wear the Red V no. 7 jumper this season with young guns Jayden Sullivan and Junior Amone locked in a shoot out to partner the Queensland and Australian representative in the halves.
Sullivan has had a setback over the past week after straining his calf but is expected to return to full training within the next fortnight.
In the meantime, Amone has been a standout given the opportunity to run at five-eighth at the Dragons Wollongong training base.
“They’re both great talents and they’ve fitted in really well at training. Sulli picked up an injury last week which means Junior’s been getting plenty of reps with the side and the coaches are going to have a tough decision to make.”
At this stage of his career, Hunt simply wants to play in as many big end-of-season games as possible.
“It’s been a little while in between drinks (in terms of the Dragons playing finals). That would be something very special for myself. (Coach Anthony Griffin) gave me the captaincy last year and it was a massive privilege. If I could come in this year and turn it around and take the Dragons to the finals and do something with it in the finals, it would be a pretty special part of my career,” Hunt said.
Dragons coach Griffin is entering his second season at the helm of the Red V with the club having an option in its favour on whether he continues in the role next year.
The old-school NRL coach is renowned for having his teams rock-hard fit and has also shown a willingness to bring in the next generation of players with the right mix of experience around them.
This is where the likes of Sullivan, Amone and fullback Tyrell Sloane will be pivotal to St George Illawarra’s fortunes this season.
If the rookies can play their role along with the experienced key position duo of halfback Hunt and hooker Andrew McCullough then the Dragons can make the bookies look silly.
Let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy doing that.
