Debate: Will Ben Hunt reach the heights of Langer and Walters?

[I bleed Maroon]

I'm taking a break from Destiny and was pretty bored, so I began to think back on the year we've had and in particular, the year Ben Hunt has had. If I were to quantify it, I reckon Hunt has had as good a year as Milford did last year, to the point where he has propelled himself into a position where 95% of the Rugby League community who are at all familiar with him as a player think he is on his way to becoming a competition superstar.

It is one thing to be a superstar, but another thing entirely to be a champion and eventually, a legend. Begrudgingly, I must describe Andrew Johns as such, but we don't give a toss about him. The yardsticks we have to judge if a Halfback is a legend are two of the all time greats, Alfie Langer and Kevin Walters.

From what little we've seen of Hunt at his very best in the number 7, is anyone else seeing shades of those two blokes in his play? I sure as hell am, particularly when it comes to Langer. So it stands to reason that yes, give Hunt another 5-6 years in the role and he will be in the discussion as one of the very best 7's at least the Broncos have ever had but probably also ever in the NRL.

Time will tell, but then again, he could crash and burn. What do you all reckon?

 

[theshed]

Good player who's had a great year. This thread is a bit over the top IMO.

 

[Morkel]

Good player who's had a great year. This thread is a bit over the top IMO.

It's not over the top at all. Because if we were asking the question in 3 or 4 years time, we'd already have the answer. That's what makes this fun - nobody really knows and we can all just speculate with best guesses, and judgments based on other players in similar positions in the past.

I'll say again that I was never sold on Hunt. Even during his good games last year, I was skeptical to say the least, a couple of good plays in a month or so of footy doesn't mean much. I am very impressed with him now though. The difficult thing is, and contrary to what I said above, is that there are very few players who have been in similar positions. Sure, there have been some late bloomers, but a half that's player bench hooker for 3 or 4 years before getting a crack? It just doesn't happen, at least not in the salary cap age. Any other player would have left for a starting gig, and full unreserved credit to Hunt for staying loyal. The other thing to weigh in to the debate is his form in the under 20s. I'd just written it off as a trend that is inherent in the 20s, that their weaker defences make playmakers look good. But when you add all those things together - his form in his younger days - his unwavering self-belief that he would one day earn his spot - and his sensational form while, let's be honest, doing it mostly on his own - it just adds up in my head to him being a great player for many more years to come, not just a flash in the pan. Those years at reduced minutes means he could genuinely play in to his mid 30s and still be at the top of his game. But will he be a legend? That's really tough. Because when you speak of legends, you think of names like Lockyer, Walters, Langer, Johns, Sterling, Daley, Sticky (yeah ew), and what do they all have in common? A premiership-winning team around them. For Hunt to be a legend, we're going to need to win at least one, probably two premierships during his time, as well as be a consistent dominant force. So much of that is out of his hands, and it's kind of unfair that his legacy will be determined by that. But I'm going to say...... yes.

 

[Ari Gold]

Pretty sure everyone has reached Alfie's height!

Well, except for a certain Lannister that is.

 

[vertigo]

Albert Kelly was an absolute gun last year.. a lot can happen in a year (fingers crossed nothing changes with Hunt though)

Teams will be wary of his dummy and run just like they know not to be fooled by McCullough.

 

[Ari Gold]

If Hunt is to be Alfie like he needs a Kevvie. Otherwise the pressure to do it all himself will eventually weigh him down. He might be Alf like one day with a good partner but he's just not JT or Andrew Johns dominant to do it on his own.

 

[Painin the Haas]

Albert Kelly was an absolute gun last year.. a lot can happen in a year (fingers crossed nothing changes with Hunt though)

Teams will be wary of his dummy and run just like they know not to be fooled by McCullough.

To be fair Kelly had some shocking injures this year.

 

[theshed]

I didn't mean any disrespect of to be a buzz killington. I just think it's an unnecessary comparison, which we as broncos fans are quite guilty of.

I'm a huge fan of the guy but at the moment he's starting to look like he may be a little one dimensional. Eventually those dummy's won't be as effective and if he wants to be considered top tier he'll need to learn some more tricks, a kicking game would be a nice start.

He has great vision but I'm afraid he may be a bit more cooper cronk than johnathan Thurston. Meaning, he isn't naturally brilliant but a guy who's going to have to depend on heaps of hard work and an exceptional footy brain. The issue with this is that a Thurston can make it anywhere but a cronk needs a Bellamy. How good Hunt becomes will depend on what kind of schooling he receives.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Far too early for comparisons and focus should be on improving his own game. There are going to be high expectations to back it up next season. I don't know if he will ever be up there with those two and I think it's unrealistic to expect him to be they aren't the sort of players that come around often. His kicking is biggest area to improve however it isn't all bad news in that regard we have scored a lot of tries from his kicks as well as line dropouts.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I said no.

Plenty halfbacks go alright in their first year in the top grade (and really, this year was Hunt's first) and then fade away when opposing teams learn their go to plays and start shutting them down.

I think that Hunt is talented.....I also think he'll struggle next year if he doesn't add a few more strings to his bow.

Solid first grader yes......league legend, no.

 

[broncos4life]

Good player who's had a great year. This thread is a bit over the top IMO.

The thread is a debate... It has asked a question not made a statement...

 

[Renegade]

No, he won't. I agree with theshed (who I suspect is thehench on sportal). He is a good player having a breakout season but he would need to play this way for the next 5-8 years (with more consistency) before a comparison could be made.

Langer was a genius, it's no disrespect to say Hunt won't be as good as him because Langer is second tier imo, with first tier being immortals.

 

[jarro65]

If Hunt is to be Alfie like he needs a Kevvie. Otherwise the pressure to do it all himself will eventually weigh him down. He might be Alf like one day with a good partner but he's just not JT or Andrew Johns dominant to do it on his own.

This.

I think Hunt is a superb talent, but Alfie was just a deadset freak !!

having a foil like Kevvie just made Alfie all the more unpredictable, and unless Ben Hunt gets a strong partner in the halves, it won't take long for opposition teams to learn how to shut him down.

I vote NO .... for now :wink:

 

[Rabbir]

Will Milford reach the heights of Lockyer?

 

[Renegade]

Will McGuire reach the heights of Webcke?

 

[Kimlo]

Keep the thread on topic please.

 

[Renegade]

tbf they're equally valid comparisons, comparing legends of the club to up and comers who've had one good season (2-3 in mcguires case).

 

[Alec]

So far he's got the dummy and the blindside raids. He still lacks a consistent kicking game, organisational ability, general openside play. I doubt he'll be as good as Langer.