Ben Hunt (rugby league)

Playing career

Hunt signed with the Brisbane Broncos as a youth player. In 2008 Hunt won the inaugural 2008 Toyota Cup player of the year award and was also named in the team of the year, on the interchange bench.

2009

In round 15 of the 2009 NRL season, Hunt made his NRL debut with the Brisbane Broncos at halfback in a 12-46 loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium. Hunt went on to play one more match that season, in round 20 against the Gold Coast Titans in a 14-34 loss at Robina Stadium.

2010

In round 8, against the Newcastle Knights, Hunt scored his first NRL career try in the Broncos 22-30 loss at Suncorp Stadium. The 2010 NRL season was seen as a breakthrough season for Hunt, as he played in 19 matches. After some impressive performances, that included scoring two tries, many were calling for Hunt to get a run as a starting hooker. Although Hunt stayed as a bench player, he demonstrated that he could be the Broncos future halfback.

2011

After a shaky start to 2011, Hunt regained his form with an impressive performance against the Canberra Raiders in the Broncos 20-4 win at Canberra Stadium in round 2. After showing solid form off the bench, Hunt broke his finger in a round 9 clash against the Melbourne Storm, Hunt made his return in round 17 against the Parramatta Eels but was then stood down for a week with teammate Andrew McCullough after being charged with public nuisance following a night of drinking in the Brisbane CBD. Hunt later returned in round 19 in the Broncos 30-10 win against the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium. Hunt went on to play in 19 matches and score a try for the Broncos in the 2011 NRL season.

2012

After the retirement of Broncos captain Darren Lockyer, Hunt was nominated alongside teammate Corey Norman to fill the vacant five-eighth position. The pair battled out in the trials but Hunt eventually lost out to Norman, leaving Hunt on the bench for round 1. In round 7, against the Canberra Raiders, Hunt and Norman both got the chance to showcase their skills on the centre stage with regular halfback Peter Wallace a late withdrawal through injury. Norman and Hunt didn't disappoint with the pair combining beautifully as the Broncos ran out 30-6 winners at Suncorp Stadium. After the Broncos stumbled at the back end of 2012, losing 7 of 10 games en route to the finals, Hunt found himself in the five-eighth role with Norman dropped to the bench following poor form. Despite playing quite well, Hunt found himself back on the bench as the Broncos were knocked out in the first week of the finals losing 33-16 against the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium. Hunt played in all the Broncos 25 matches and scored a try in the 2012 NRL season.

2013

Hunt continued his bench role for the start of the 2013 NRL season as the Broncos made a shaky start. Hunt got his first opportunity in his preferred halfback role in the round 9 clash against the Parramatta Eels, as Scott Prince suffered an injury in the opening minutes in the Broncos' 18-19 loss at Parramatta Stadium. On 14 May 2013, Hunt signed a new two-year deal with the Broncos. Towards the back end of the season, in round 21 in the Broncos 18-16 win against the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium, Hunt secured the halfback position for the Broncos after Corey Norman was dumped to the Queensland Cup for the rest of the year. Hunt scored a try in the match. Hunt played in 23 matches and scored 2 tries for the Broncos in the 2013 NRL season.

2014

In February 2014, Hunt was selected in the Broncos runners-up 2014 Auckland Nines squad. In June 2014, Hunt was named in the Queensland Maroons 22-man squad for game 2 as cover for halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, but Cherry-Evans recovered in time for the game, sending Hunt back to the Broncos. Hunt had an excellent season for the Broncos, being one of the top contenders for the Dally M, finishing fourth in the votes and getting a pay rise to $450,000 a season. Hunt finished off the 2014 NRL season with playing in all of the Broncos 25 matches, scoring 13 tries and kicking 21 goals.

On 14 October 2014, Hunt was selected for the Australia 2014 Four Nations 24-man squad. Hunt made his international debut for Australia against England at AAMI Park, coming off the interchange bench and scoring a try just after a couple of minutes of coming onto the field in Australia’s 16-12 win. Hunt played off the interchange bench and scored a try in the Kangaroos 18-22 Four Nations final loss over New Zealand at Westpac Stadium. On 1 October 2014, Hunt re-signed with the Broncos until the end of the 2017 season.

2015

In round 6, against the Sydney Roosters, Hunt had a brilliant performance in the match, scoring 2 tries, one of them in golden point extra time to win the match for the Broncos 22-18 at Suncorp Stadium. In round 25, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Hunt scored his first NRL hat trick of tries in the Broncos 47-12 win at the Sydney Football Stadium. On 4 October 2015, in the 2015 NRL Grand Final match against the North Queensland Cowboys, Hunt played at halfback in the Broncos historic golden point 16-17 loss. Hunt was heavily talked about after the match after a horror last three minutes, first being penalized for a lifting tackle on Cowboys centre Kane Linnett which resulting in Hunt being placed on report for the tackle. In the Broncos last set with ball in the match, Hunt got his hands on the ball 44 metres out from Brisbane's line, but a loose carry results in a one-on-one strip from Kyle Feldt, who shortly after scored the try in the corner to tie up the match at 16-all. Four seconds into extra time, with the ball spiralling in the air, Hunt set himself underneath the ball but knocked on, which give the Cowboys the opportunity win the match when the Cowboys' captain, Johnathan Thurston, kicked the winning field goal. Hunt played in 26 matches, scoring 12 tries and kicking 4 goals.

2016

On 12 January 2016, Hunt was selected in the QAS Emerging Maroons squad. On 4 February 2016, Hunt, along with eight other members of the Queensland Emerging squad, was banned from Queensland State of Origin selection for 12 months after breaking team curfew. In round 10, against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Hunt played his 150th NRL match in the Broncos 30-6 win at Suncorp Stadium. Even though Hunt’s 2016 NRL season was more lacklustre then the previous season, he managed still to play in all of the Broncos 26 matches and score 7 tries.

On 20 September 2016, Hunt was added to the Australian Kangaroos 2016 Four Nations train-on squad but later failed to make the final 24-man squad.

2017

On 23 January 2017, after much speculation on Hunt's future at the Broncos, with the Parramatta Eels and St. George Illawarra Dragons interested in signing him from the 2018 season onwards, Hunt agreed to sign a multimillion-dollar 5-year contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2018. After starting the season well for the Broncos, in Round 6 against the Sydney Roosters, Hunt suffered a hamstring injury while doing a try-saving tackle on Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell during the 32-8 win at Suncorp Stadium. Hunt was later sidelined for 6 weeks due to the injury. Hunt returned for the Broncos in Round 12 against the New Zealand Warriors in the 28-10 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. On 8 June 2017, after the Broncos lost back-to-back matches after Hunt’s return to the squad, Hunt was dropped to the Queensland Cup to play for the Ipswich Jets by coach Wayne Bennett after he preferred his replacement at halfback Kodi Nikorima after he showed strong performances during Hunt’s absence resulting in 6 straight wins while he out with injury. A month following Hunt's shock dropping to the Ipswich Jets hunt was selected on the bench for Queensland for Game 3 of the State of Origin Series due to injuries to Darius Boyd and Jonathan Thurston in Game 2. Hunt was selected to fill the void of Michael Morgan who was promoted to left Centre role of Darius Boyd.

2018

Hunt will join the St George Dragons on a five-year deal.

Personal life

Despite growing up in Queensland, Hunt is a self-proclaimed Cronulla Sharks fan. As a youngster he idolised Mat Rogers which was the reason he supported the Sharks. Hunt has also stated Andrew Johns as the player who most influenced his game.