The Broncos halves experiment of Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds could soon be over after a move by Michael Maguire on the weekend signalled a change of position for Hunt when Ezra Mam returns from suspension.
Mam’s NRL-enforced suspension ends in two weeks and it’s appearing more and more likely he’ll slot back into the No. 6 jersey on return.
Just a couple of weeks ago, most would have believed that Mam’s way back into the side would be as a super sub off the bench with Hunt and Reynolds remaining in the halves given the form of the veteran duo.
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However, the Broncos have lost two straight games and Hunt especially has been very ordinary.
Against the Warriors, he made more errors (four) than he did run metres (two).
“Ben Hunt had close to the worst game I’ve ever seen from him. I felt sorry for him. That’s not a dig it just wasn’t very good,” NRL 360 co-host Braith Anasta said.
“The worrying part was Ben Hunt’s body language. He looked totally rattled for a senior player and you don’t see that,” The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie said.
“He lost his way badly for a bloke with so much experience.”
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To spark something, Maguire made the call to move Hunt to hooker during the second half, shifting Billy Walters to five-eighth.
Maguire explained the shock decision in his post match presser.
“We went through some pressure there and things weren’t going our way,” Maguire said.
“I just thought a bit of a change there when Hunty jumped into dummy-half and Billy played at six just added something to us, and you’ve got to find those things.
“There was a lot of fatigue in the game and I felt that subtle little change actually put us back into a position to take the game.”
Veteran journalist Paul Crawley labelled the mid-game switch as “strange” and hinted it could lead to another big selection call in the coming weeks.
“Hunt was terrible on the weekend,” Crawley said.
“I thought the decision to move into dummy-half during the match kind of strange, and Billy Walters goes out to play five-eighth.
“You have four hookers in the club and Ben Hunt’s moving there. And I know that we saw this that might happen down the track when Ezra comes back but I thought to myself if these the first cracks appearing.
“Hunt has made it clear that even though he loves playing dummy-half in Origin, in club football he sees himself as a half.”
Hunt has been named at six for this Thursday’s blockbuster against the Bulldogs and will likely be given at least one or two more games to redeem himself given his track record and price tag.
Mam will be sidelined for two more week, eligible for selection in Round 10.
Crawley opined that Mam’s absence has had a big effect on the out-of-sorts Reece Walsh.
Walsh hasn’t been close to his dazzling best this season and will now miss the next four to six weeks with a knee injury.
“Has Recce Walsh really lit up the field like his has. I’ve thought for some time that he’s missed Ezra.
“Walsh hasn’t been as good with his little mate there.”
