Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 44,119
- 33,258
BRONCOS halfback Ben Hunt says his “head is clear” and has moved on from his heartbreaking back-to-back blunders in Brisbane’s extra-time grand-final loss to the Cowboys.
Speaking for the first time about Brisbane’s night of pain as he launched his 2016 pre-season today, Hunt declared he had mentally recovered from the toughest night of his career in last season’s NRL decider.
Hunt enjoyed a magnificent 2015 season, but arguably the finest campaign of his career was marred by two grand-final gaffes that almost reduced the 25-year-old to tears.
In a nightmare three-minute period, Hunt was reported for spear-tackling Kane Linnett before dropping the extra-time kick-off that led to Johnathan Thurston’s title-winning field goal.
Hunt found solace in an overseas holiday to Fiji with partner Bridget Hagan and says he won’t carry mental scars as he attempts to break Brisbane’s 10-year title drought.
“The head is clear again,” said Hunt, who was consoled by Broncos coach Wayne Bennett moments after the 17-16 defeat.
“I’ve moved on from that now and I’m focused on next year.
“Of course it was tough ... I dropped the ball to lose the grand final, so that going to be tough (to handle).
“Wayne (Bennett) has been a great support to all of us. He got us in for a chat and we had a one-on-one.
“He’s been a great support to everyone at the club, not just the players.”
Broncos veteran Corey Parker said Hunt did not deserve to be branded as the poster boy for Brisbane’s crushing defeat with the premiership in sight.
“Benny has copped some criticism over what we saw in the grand final but the reality of it is we shouldn’t have been in that position,” Parker said.
Parker and Hunt are among the frontline contenders to succeed Justin Hodges as Broncos skipper in 2016, but neither were talking up their leadership prospects today.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it (the captaincy) too much,” he said. “If I get called to do the job at some stage in my career I will be more than happy to do it.
“But if it’s not now, that’s fine.”
Parker would relish the prospect of leading the Broncos but says he won’t be actively campaigning for the job.
“I don’t have to publicly say how much this means to me, everyone is very aware of that,” he said.
“We’ll wait and see in due time what comes of all that.
“Wayne does things when he wants so we’ll wait and see.
“We have a pretty good senior leadership group and it’s important we do so. Everyone is required to pull their weight and do their role. I guess any one of those guys with the ‘C’ would do a good job.”
The Broncos have been installed as premiership favourites and Hunt backed the squad to go one better in 2016.
“It was a heartbreaking night,” he said of the grand-final loss.
“It was a tough one for everyone and everyone that loses a grand final knows what it feels like. For us now, we have to move on, it’s in the past. We are onto next year and doing the best we can.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...d-final-blunders/story-fniabm4i-1227628300782
Speaking for the first time about Brisbane’s night of pain as he launched his 2016 pre-season today, Hunt declared he had mentally recovered from the toughest night of his career in last season’s NRL decider.
Hunt enjoyed a magnificent 2015 season, but arguably the finest campaign of his career was marred by two grand-final gaffes that almost reduced the 25-year-old to tears.
In a nightmare three-minute period, Hunt was reported for spear-tackling Kane Linnett before dropping the extra-time kick-off that led to Johnathan Thurston’s title-winning field goal.
Hunt found solace in an overseas holiday to Fiji with partner Bridget Hagan and says he won’t carry mental scars as he attempts to break Brisbane’s 10-year title drought.
“The head is clear again,” said Hunt, who was consoled by Broncos coach Wayne Bennett moments after the 17-16 defeat.
“I’ve moved on from that now and I’m focused on next year.
“Of course it was tough ... I dropped the ball to lose the grand final, so that going to be tough (to handle).
“Wayne (Bennett) has been a great support to all of us. He got us in for a chat and we had a one-on-one.
“He’s been a great support to everyone at the club, not just the players.”
Broncos veteran Corey Parker said Hunt did not deserve to be branded as the poster boy for Brisbane’s crushing defeat with the premiership in sight.
“Benny has copped some criticism over what we saw in the grand final but the reality of it is we shouldn’t have been in that position,” Parker said.
Parker and Hunt are among the frontline contenders to succeed Justin Hodges as Broncos skipper in 2016, but neither were talking up their leadership prospects today.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it (the captaincy) too much,” he said. “If I get called to do the job at some stage in my career I will be more than happy to do it.
“But if it’s not now, that’s fine.”
Parker would relish the prospect of leading the Broncos but says he won’t be actively campaigning for the job.
“I don’t have to publicly say how much this means to me, everyone is very aware of that,” he said.
“We’ll wait and see in due time what comes of all that.
“Wayne does things when he wants so we’ll wait and see.
“We have a pretty good senior leadership group and it’s important we do so. Everyone is required to pull their weight and do their role. I guess any one of those guys with the ‘C’ would do a good job.”
The Broncos have been installed as premiership favourites and Hunt backed the squad to go one better in 2016.
“It was a heartbreaking night,” he said of the grand-final loss.
“It was a tough one for everyone and everyone that loses a grand final knows what it feels like. For us now, we have to move on, it’s in the past. We are onto next year and doing the best we can.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...d-final-blunders/story-fniabm4i-1227628300782
Last edited:
