Ben Hunt

[Danoz Direct]

Playing badly no, but there has definitely been a difference in the last two series, his last dominate performance was back in 2012 playing 5/8th and that was without Lockyer so I don't see that him being a halfback as being a factor just because his playing 5/8th, he plays there at club level anyway and his still playing great there. Both he and Cronk are getting on, Queensland will want more then Cherry Evans for experienced SOO halves to call upon sooner then later.

After Origin this year he changed back to halfback and played a lot better.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Both are 30-31 so neither will be retiring any time soon. Unless DCE REALLY ****s up he won't lose his bench spot imo. I do agree that Thurston has dropped off in recent seasons and Cronk has been underwhelming though.

I'm not saying they are ready for the retirement home just yet, but if they don't lift at that level soon they face an uphill battle keeping DCE and Hunt out.

 

[Alec]

Thurston had a terrible Origin series, and has frankly been poor for QLD for 2 or 3 years now. I don't think he's past it though, he had a brilliant year with the Cowboys.

Cronk showed everyone how much QLD missed him in Game 3.

 

[bazza]

Thurston hasn't been poor. Well at least people don't think he's been poor when he's setting Inglis and Boyd up for tries... The quality ball he's been feeding the guys on his outside has been remarkable. I still maintain that Thurston is a better halfback than five-eighth and had a better combination with Lockyer as opposed to Cronk. Thurston and Cronk's combination was looking like it was coming along, only for Cronk to get injured. Previously it just looked clunky. While DCE and Thurston never really gelled at all. The only thing Cronk showed was that DCE isn't all that people on BHQ hype him up to be...

 

[Mitch06]

Hunt does seem more of a 5/8 then a natural 7

 

[Splinter]

Thurston hasn't been poor. Well at least people don't think he's been poor when he's setting Inglis and Boyd up for tries... The quality ball he's been feeding the guys on his outside has been remarkable. I still maintain that Thurston is a better halfback than five-eighth and had a better combination with Lockyer as opposed to Cronk. Thurston and Cronk's combination was looking like it was coming along, only for Cronk to get injured. Previously it just looked clunky. While DCE and Thurston never really gelled at all. The only thing Cronk showed was that DCE isn't all that people on BHQ hype him up to be...

Agreed
DCE was ordinary in origin and most likely cost us the series by selfishly keeping Hunt out of the second origin when it was obvious to all that his injury was severely hampering him

 

[broncos4life]

DCE is a selfish prick. Hope his rep career is a short one

 

[Danoz Direct]

I remember when everyone was like lets get DCE and punt Hunt, how things change.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

The Hunt/Milford halves combination could be the most dangerous in the code next year, depending on if Milford is firing.

 

[K-Style]

Agreed
DCE was ordinary in origin and most likely cost us the series by selfishly keeping Hunt out of the second origin when it was obvious to all that his injury was severely hampering him

DCE was ordinary in many of the later Manly games I watched too. One of them he sat back and watched Brett Stewart do all the work.

In the Aus vs NZ game DCE's defense was terrible. We know what Hunt can do and thankfully he lived up to it at rep level.

 

[Splinter]

The Hunt/Milford halves combination could be the most dangerous in the code next year, depending on if Milford is firing.

As long as the forwards do their job we will score some points next season

 

[bazza]

I think our backline is coming along nicely. Plenty of options for various options, which can only be a good thing. A full year for Copley will do him a world of good and will only get better. I feel Vidot will continue to be an asset, but I hope he slims down a touch so that he can gain some more speed. He'll then be the ideal, big, strong and fast winger. Hunt and Milford I think will really fire come round 1. We've been done a favour with the PM 13's game with Milford and Hunt playing in the halves together already.

The only concerning thing at the moment is our forward pack, or lack of... I really don't want to see Parker permanently at Prop. You want your best players out their for the whole game, and you want them playing in the correct position. For people who say he plays exactly the same, then why can he no longer play 80mins? Obviously its not the same. He's just not as effective playing prop. He's clearly the best lock in the game, but not even close to being the best prop in the game. Something tells me that's not a coincidence.

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[Big Pete]

Ben is coming quite the star. Came on late in the game today and single handedly lifted the team. Maroons next year?

Single-handed is a bit rich but he definitely made the most of a fairly bad hand.

I don't think Thurston is playing bad in SOO, I think its more a case of him and Cronk not having the right combination. Lockyer and Thurston had the best halves combination at representative level, and I really think that't what's affecting Thurston's game. Its more a case of two halfbacks in the team. I think what's most concerning is the lack of quality five-eighths in the NRL. Everyone seems to be halfbacks playing at five-eighth. Since Lockyer there hasn't been a specialist five-eighth.

I agree that JT isn't playing THAT badly at rep level.

Disagree about their combination.

Actually thought they gelled fine together. Couple of teething problems but they won two Origin series together, a World Cup and for all we know, could have won a 3rd Origin series if Cronk didn't have somebody break his arm.

That being said, I think DCE isn't playing great and I'd like to see Hunt in the starting side against Samoa, with DCE coming off the bench. Hunt definitely added a bit of spark which lifted the team. Hunt seemed to gel nicely with Smith and Cronk, especially since it was his debut game playing with those guys. I'd love to see what he could do with those guys with the more game time.

DCE isn't enjoying a good season, but I thought he played well against England and deserves to start infront of Hunt.

Agreed
DCE was ordinary in origin and most likely cost us the series by selfishly keeping Hunt out of the second origin when it was obvious to all that his injury was severely hampering him

I don't blame DCE at all for Origin II and quite frankly, I couldn't envision Hunt putting in a better performance than DCE did that night - especially if Hunt's other 'big game' matches are anything to go by.

Very harsh to call him selfish too. If anything, it just goes to show how committed he was to the team and despite conceding a 'weight of possession' try at the death we didn't lose because of DCE.

DCE was ordinary in many of the later Manly games I watched too. One of them he sat back and watched Brett Stewart do all the work.

Agree.

For me, that no try against Brisbane sort of summed his year up. Did all the hard yards but when it came time to claim his reward, he spilled his lollies over the line.

Always seemed to be good for those brain fades.

Still, I always thought his long distance kicking game was top notch and he still had the odd good play in him. As long as he doesn't regress or stagnant he'll be fine.