EXCLUSIVE: Fascinating Ben Hunt Forecast Emerges as Broncos Struggle to Regain Their Offensive Edge in Recent Downturn

Brisbane Broncos icon and club director Darren Lockyer believes Ben Hunt’s transition to hooker during the game against the Warriors may be indicative of the club’s future direction as they navigate a spine conundrum.

Lockyer made these remarks following Billy Slater’s observation that the team seems to have “lost a bit of their attack” amid a recent slump in form.

Hunt had a challenging outing against the Warriors, moving from five-eighth to hooker in the latter part of the match.

His partnership with Adam Reynolds started on a high note this season, highlighted by a resounding victory over the Roosters.

Since that strong start, the team’s performance has seen a mix of highs and lows, with the defeat to the Warriors marking their second consecutive loss.

Slater acknowledged the need for a tactical shift during the clash with the Warriors.

“When you’re in a situation like that, you simply have to make changes to reignite the spark. Ben Hunt has the ability to turn things around quickly when he’s in possession, so I don’t mind that occasionally,” he stated on Nine’s The Billy Slater podcast.

“It’s a great advantage that (coach) Michael Maguire has Ben Hunt’s versatility at his disposal, given what a talented No.9 he is. I anticipate he’ll start in the halves but may switch depending on the game situation.”

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In his post-match comments, Maguire revealed he is still searching for his ideal spine combination, especially with Ezra Mam’s suspension set to conclude by round 10.

The anticipation surrounding Mam’s return fuels speculation about the team’s composition, and Lockyer believes Hunt’s shift might be a precursor to what’s ahead.

“I’m not privy to Madge’s plans for Ezra. He hasn’t played for a while, and while he may be fit for training, match fitness requires time,” he noted during his appearance on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.

“Ezra might be expecting to return, but we will have to wait and see. Recently, they had three hookers (Cory Paix, Billy Walters and Tyson Smoothy) on the team, yet Ben Hunt still spent some time in the hooker position. Is that a signal of a potential permanent transition?”

Lockyer also noted that the rainy conditions in Auckland didn’t favour Hunt’s style of play.

“The weather certainly wasn’t conducive for ball control, and it seemed he had an off night where the conditions impacted his confidence and execution. However, he has been around long enough to bounce back, and I’m confident we’ll see a strong reaction from him,” he remarked.

As a player primarily known as a halfback, Hunt has also enjoyed significant success playing hooker at the Origin level for Queensland.