Ben Hunt will miss the opening match of the State of Origin due to an injury, but the veteran Maroons player has proposed an unexpected shift in the team’s lineup.
The 35-year-old sustained a hamstring injury during last weekend’s clash against the Rabbitohs, which now means he will be out of action for six weeks, dashing his hopes of retaining his place in the Queensland squad.
While Hunt mentioned he’s an “outside chance” of returning in time for the second game, he expressed disappointment about the timing, particularly with the Dragons fixture this weekend and the Origin series looming ahead.
“I’m feeling okay, to be honest,” he shared on 4BC’s Wide World of Sports Radio. “It’s certainly disappointing, especially given the situation with the Dragons and the upcoming Origin.”
Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt during a Queensland Maroons training session. Getty
“I’ve been fortunate with injuries over my career, so I can’t really complain too much,” he continued.
Having played various positions for the Maroons in his 20 appearances in the intense battle of State of Origin, Hunt will now watch from the sidelines.
In his absence, coach Billy Slater has multiple options at hooker and on the bench, with Cowboys captain Tom Dearden emerging as a top contender to take the No.14 jersey.
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Conversely, Hunt has hinted at another “handy” possibility that Slater may consider, suggesting a positional change for one of Queensland’s star players.
“There are certainly some excellent options available—it’s all up to what Billy decides to do,” he remarked.
“There’s been talk about possibly moving [Cameron] Munster to fullback and things like that. If he opts to place Munster at fullback and starts Tommy in the halves, that gives you KP [Kalyn Ponga] on the bench, which is a great option as well.”
Kalyn Ponga during last year’s Maroons camp. Getty
“In his debut, [Ponga] played in the middle and was arguably our standout player,” Hunt noted.
“He could be a solid option.”
Ponga is the prime candidate for the fullback role with Reece Walsh unavailable, though he has been part of a Newcastle Knights squad that has struggled this season.
Meanwhile, Munster has long been Queensland’s go-to five-eighth, having initially begun his NRL career as a fullback for the Melbourne Storm.
Utilising Munster in a fullback role in the State of Origin would be a bold and unexpected call from Slater.
The squads for the Origin opener will be revealed following the conclusion of Round 11.
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