NEWS What Hunt’s Broncos’ homecoming means for two generational talents

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Ben Hunt returns to the Broncos declaring he is one of a “couple of old fossils” capable of showing the club’s young talent what premiership success looks like.

Hunt is set to start the season at five-eighth, before moving to hooker once Ezra Mam returns from an expected lengthy suspension after being charged with drug and unlicensed driving.

Among the rookies who should benefit from Hunt’s influence are Coby Black.

Heralded as Brisbane’s next long-term halfback, Black was expected to vie to be the full-time replacement for Adam Reynolds, should 2025 be the skipper’s last.

Now that Hunt had signed a two-year deal, he was expected to take the reins in that instance, likely leaving Black to continue honing his craft for an extra season in the Queensland Cup.

But Reynolds has implored the 18-year-old and his fellow emerging prospects to embrace the challenge of internal competition, and feed off the experience Hunt would provide.

“When there’s competition out there at training it makes every player better, it doesn’t matter who you are,” Reynolds said, when asked what Hunt’s presence would mean for Black.

“Ben would add to that. It’s not to say he won’t make everyone else in the team better as well, he’s a competitor who brings a lot of experience.

“We know what he brings to the football field, [and] he’s a leader off the football field. He’s an X-factor amongst some of the game’s greats.”

Black’s Souths Logan coach, Karmichael Hunt, made his NRL debut as a 17-year-old, and said leaders in Darren Lockyer, Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and Brad Thorn “protected” him and allowed him to blossom into a premier fullback.

Black could reap the same benefits under Reynolds and Hunt.

“My youth was balanced out by the leaders in the team ... the players who protected us young kids out on the field,” Karmichael Hunt said last year.

“It was definitely a calming influence on me – the leaders around you who had won premierships and played 200-plus games.

“Their calmness and conviction around how to prepare and what to do when you’re executing the game plan allowed me to be loose and calm enough.”

Reynolds has refused to confirm the forthcoming campaign would be his last, stressing “we’ll see how the body’s feeling halfway through the year”.

His injury-riddled 2024 – Reynolds played just 13 games last season due to biceps and hamstring setbacks – could present opportunities for Black to debut alongside Hunt.

Brisbane has four dummy-halves on the roster already, with Blake Mozer – tipped to be the club’s long-term No.9 – coming off contract in 2025 and fighting for regular game time.

Hunt believed he would not only inject vital experience into the squad’s youth, but forge one of the most lethal spine partnerships in the NRL.

“A couple of old fossils leading the young kids around, I’m really looking forward to that,” Hunt told 4BC.

“Having the opportunity to link with Reyno and start working on a plan on how we can really gel is something I’m really looking forward to.”

“My priority is to play in the halves, but hooker definitely isn’t an issue. Wouldn’t it be great to come back 10 years later and win a premiership with that great club?

“I do believe they’ve got the troops there to do it.”

Sydney Morning Herald
 
Ben Hunt returns to the Broncos declaring he is one of a “couple of old fossils” capable of showing the club’s young talent what premiership success looks like.

What is Ben basing that on.......he's never won a premiership.
 
My priority is to play in the halves, but hooker definitely isn’t an issue.

Music to my ears.

I`m warming up to the idea of Hunt coming home .
I guess I was still pissed he didn`t stick around and redeem himself all those years ago .
The more I think of him as a #6 the more I think Selwyn and Reece can benefit .
His running game should take some heat off his supports . His show and go close to the line has always been a weapon . Using it sparringly could keep defences in two minds .
 
Hunt's signing is exactly want we need to give Black a smooth transition into first grade, there is no pressure to rush his development now and he can really refine his game before he makes his debut.

Before Hunt I would have said Black probably would need to be bled into a game or two for 25 or we risk losing him entirely, but now we can wait till he makes his mark in Qcup now.
 
I think its great to have Ben on board , you have to earn a spot in the maroons and in the australian team, they dont hand them out easily. I feel that he will find another level of inspiration and hunger now that he is home. You cannot dispute that the experience between him and Reno has got to flow through the club and along with Patty, Payney and the like with Madge at the rudder , I am pretty frigging excited at what is to come this season!! :happy:
 
Hunt confirmed on SEN he is coming to play 9. Wow that's huge, from his own mouth.
when he was this, I heard he is starting at 6. Do you have the link to the video
 
look for my post in the other Hunt thread

He actually said he expects to play in the halves till Ezra returns , then play hooker .
2.14 - Fletch asks where does Madge think your best position will be ?
BHunt - Yeah Mate off the top it`ll be in the halves . I`ll slot straight into the halves there .And longer term when Ezra gets back you look at the spine of Walsh at the back , Ezra and Reyno in the halves and me at #9 that`s a pretty handy spine .
Yeah we`ll play it along as we go . But obviously in the halves to start with .

 
He actually said he expects to play in the halves till Ezra returns , then play hooker .
2.14 - Fletch asks where does Madge think your best position will be ?
BHunt - Yeah Mate off the top it`ll be in the halves . I`ll slot straight into the halves there .And longer term when Ezra gets back you look at the spine of Walsh at the back , Ezra and Reyno in the halves and me at #9 that`s a pretty handy spine .
Yeah we`ll play it along as we go . But obviously in the halves to start with .



which is what we've all been saying.

he signed a two year contract, so he would expect to play the vast majority of it at hooker.
 
He actually said he expects to play in the halves till Ezra returns , then play hooker .
2.14 - Fletch asks where does Madge think your best position will be ?
BHunt - Yeah Mate off the top it`ll be in the halves . I`ll slot straight into the halves there .And longer term when Ezra gets back you look at the spine of Walsh at the back , Ezra and Reyno in the halves and me at #9 that`s a pretty handy spine .
Yeah we`ll play it along as we go . But obviously in the halves to start with .


Basically what everyone thought it would be then, like if he started at 9 even with Mam out that would raise eyebrows.
 
which is what we've all been saying.

he signed a two year contract, so he would expect to play the vast majority of it at hooker.
Even that Is doubtful though, Reyno looks likely to retire this year and if he isn't playing 7 in a post Reyno broncos that would be very surprising.

He is most likely to play 9 when it matters though in the finals for 25 assuming we actually get a good season going which we should.
 
he signed a two year contract, so he would expect to play the vast majority of it at hooker.
Are you thinking he'll be playing 9 next year as well? I would have thought the majority of his contract will be at 7. This year it will be a mix of 6 and 9 most likely and next year he takes over from Reyno.
 

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