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

[Porthoz]

True, he probably put himself 12 months behind after that incident with McCullough.

Defence wise though, he's shown this year he's a solid defender. He's gone above and beyond actually on occasion and is often the last one there on the cover tackle.

That defense is definitely due to his stint at hooker. I recall he wasn't even much of a speed bump in the Toyota Cup...

Regarding the thread question, he reminds me a lot of Johns, more than Alfie or Kevvie, albeit he's nowhere near Joey's kicking game.

I still view him more as a 5/8, and I'm not even sure he'll maintain a spot in the halves once Taylor matures. It will depend on Barba and Milf's performance...

Whether he improves his kicking and organization skills enough, will determine whether he'll reach those heights necessary to get the legend label. I vote yes, but I do have strong reservations.

 

[rnabokov]

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.

Hey M, can you paragraph your posts lol? Reading you twists my mo into knots.

BTW, I don't count Walters anywhere near the other true legends you mention.

Your point about the team the "legends" had around them is telling, yet each of them had that something extra that set them apart from the very good to almost-great halves. One of those Y Factors was vision - seeing what wasn't there yet, but could be, and, then, making it happen. I think Hunt has shown some of that vision.

At the same time, each of the "legends" also were complete players - they had it all. Hunt at this stage doesn't, specifically, a quality, consistent kicking game, and very patchy organizational skills which for mine, made Alfie and Johns so special.

Hunt has, on the basis of his still fledgling half back career, shown flashes of the qualities the "legends" had but so far, it is way way to early to even suggest he can reach those dizzying heights.

One of the pleasures of watching a quality younger player develop is to see if they keep evolving, and for mine, Hunt is a quality half. I will look forward to watching his progress.

 

[Alec]

Yeah, one of the reasons I want us to hire Andrew Johns to coach BHunt is because BHunt reminds me so much of him, the willingness to run, the superb vision etc. Even he said multiple times he's based his game on Andrew's. Johns could help him in areas that Hunt lacks, like kicking and organisation, both of which Johns was absolute god at. I think I remember Hunt even trying banana kicks a few times.

DCE reminds me of Johns too, in a slightly different way, and him working with Johns certainly helped a lot.

 

[heartly87]

I for one think that he was kept on the bench all those years, due to one reason. There were to many proven 1st grade halfs and not hookers. The club/coach new they had a potentially great half. What they didn't have was a hooker who could play the full 80 yet and few other options in that area once PJ retired. They had locky, Wallace (who was not bad with locky running the show), once Locky retired things have just been getting buy. They thought norman would fill the gap but with Wallace not showing up to lead and norman not working out either. they decided to bring in Prince, which didn't do much but stir the pot, hence norman leaving prince and Wallace shown the door. So all the while Hunt has been on the back burner, Coach Griffin had the Hunt loyalty card. I don't think it was what Hunt lacked per say but what the Club lacked in certain areas and had in others. The rot or under preforming players have slowly been rid of freeing the way for Hunt to show what he has in his natural position. I think he has done a great job this year and hope he shines tonight. he has the potential but if and how he becomes the next langer walters is up to him.

 

[Steve Renouf]

Hunt has had a couple of good games this year, and had a couple of good games last year.

The only people writing him up to be a future superstar are those who dream of it and the media feeding those who dream of it.

Hunt is like McCullough in a way, expected to be great/solid/game changing even though they play different positions they are both highly over rated.

They are both fair players who would go well at QLD Cup and stand out but at NRL level they are often found out.

The only reason they are in the Brisbane team is because there is no one else. I would even have Wallace ahead of Hunt, he at least had very good defence.

So to sum up, you are living in la la land if you think Hunt will even come close to being a Langer or a Walters.

 

[Huge]

Hunt will have to improve to be in Langers class.

 

[Alec]

Hunt has had a couple of good games this year, and had a couple of good games last year.

The only people writing him up to be a future superstar are those who dream of it and the media feeding those who dream of it.

Hunt is like McCullough in a way, expected to be great/solid/game changing even though they play different positions they are both highly over rated.

They are both fair players who would go well at QLD Cup and stand out but at NRL level they are often found out.

The only reason they are in the Brisbane team is because there is no one else. I would even have Wallace ahead of Hunt, he at least had very good defence.

So to sum up, you are living in la la land if you think Hunt will even come close to being a Langer or a Walters.

Hunt has shown he is a grea talent. But he has no backup and has been dudded by being played out of position. No one is going to convince me with that "defence" rubbish. It only toughened him up, but killed 4 years of his development as a half.

I don't rate McCullough either, but Hunt could still be a gun with a better coach and a better partner than Barba.

 

[Steve Renouf]

Hunt has shown he is a grea talent. But he has no backup and has been dudded by being played out of position. No one is going to convince me with that "defence" rubbish. It only toughened him up, but killed 4 years of his development as a half.

I don't rate McCullough either, but Hunt could still be a gun with a better coach and a better partner than Barba.

Could be? Should be? Would be?

Sounds like how many described McCullough in the first few years of his career.

If Hunt was a great player you would see it now, you cannot blame the players around him.

 

[Brett]

Could be? Should be? Would be?

Sounds like how many described McCullough in the first few years of his career.

If Hunt was a great player you would see it now, you cannot blame the players around him.

We can see it now.

It appears to be the ones with agendas against him who can't.

Players have bad games from time to time.

Hunt has shown more than enough this year to suggest that he will be a great talent for this club.

You are one of these forum members who comes on here and has digs in certain threads when the chips are down because it's easy. When the team are doing well, you're nowhere to be seen.

 

[K-Style]

If Hunt was a great player you would see it now, you cannot blame the players around him.

Have you watched any games this year? Hunt has been the shining light when there are far bigger problems. A forward pack makes great halves but Hunt is not playing behind one. A lot of the tries in the latter half this year are where Hunt has backed himself and broken the line.

Saying his defense is poor is crazy talk. He has made many try-savers including stripping the ball from Tony Williams.

 

[FaceOfMutiny]

It's hard to judge Hunt behind a forward pack that has struggled all year.

The forward pack was better the last 2 years than it was this year.

Put Sam back to 12 and Corey back to 13... AND USE THE BENCH! Sure Glenn and Gillet can play for 80 but they sure play better when they play for less than 80. Why take Parker off for 3-4 minutes a game and then use different bench forwards for 3-4 minutes a game?
If they can only play for 3-4 minutes then pick someone else on the bench!

Other teams have impact off the bench. The broncos have Lowrie and Stagg.... who are solid defenders and ok runners but are not impact players. They do the same job as Glenn and Gillet when they are made to play 80 minutes(and are tired). Lowrie/Stagg are defending players who offer very little in attack but can defend well for long periods at a time so having them on for short stints is absolutely pointless.

The one hope I have with Bennett over Griffin is at least he knows how to use a bench.