By Wayne Heming

FOG# 193 Ben Hunt brings up NRL game number 300 at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday hoping to celebrate the rare career milestone by steering the St George-Illawarra Dragons to a much-needed win against North Queensland.

Hunt will become just the 47^th player in NRL-ARL history to join the 300-game club.

His former Brisbane Broncos teammate Andrew McCullough (2022) also played his 300^th games for the Dragons before retiring.

Hunt made his NRL debut against Cronulla in round 15 of the 2009 season at the age of 19 after being named the 2008 Toyota Cup Under 20’s Player of the Year.

He started his junior career playing for the Blackwater Crushers in Rockhampton.

He was identified by the late Cyril Connell who told then-coach Wayne Bennett he had to get him to the Brisbane Broncos at all costs.

Of his 299 NRL games, more than half, 187, were in Brisbane Broncos colours.

Hunt has experienced some highs and lows along his 14-year journey but has always been regarded as a quality player.

Hunt and McCullough have played rugby league together since they were 12.

McCullough played a majority of his 260 games for Brisbane with Hunt before Hunt left to play for the Dragons in 2018.

After a season with Newcastle in 2020 McCullough again linked with Hunt for the final two seasons of his career in 2021-22.

Hunt played In McCullough’s 300^th game when the Dragons beat South Sydney to make it a very special night.

McCullough said Hunt, who always coveted the No.7 jumper, had shown a lot of resilience early in his career when he had to play a lot of his football at hooker for the Broncos.

“I know he wasn’t happy about it but it is a good lesson for young blokes how much time Ben put in and the patience he showed to win that halfback jumper.

“Too many kids these days are impatient but Ben stuck at it, worked very hard and when he got his shot, grabbed it with both hands and never let go of it.”

McCullough said he couldn’t recall Hunt ever having a really bad game after he took ownership of the No.7 jumper in 2014, a break-out year.

”To be as consistent as he has for that long is quite remarkable, the way he has done it,” he said.

“When things have gone wrong, he hasn’t shied away from it, he’s accepted it and copped it on the chin and never hidden from his mistakes, another good lesson for young kids.

“I’m really happy for him. I’m really proud of him, not just because of the player and teammate he is on the field, but the person he is off it.

“He’s been a great teammate to many of us, but more importantly he has been a great husband and a great Dad and a really great bloke.”

In a sport where some players make headlines for all the wrong reasons, Hunt has managed to stay on the right side of the tracks and avoid any off-field dramas.

But he’s not perfect according to McCullough

“I don’t want to pump his tyres up too much,” laughs McCullough.

“He’s done plenty of things wrong, he hasn’t been an angel.

“He’s from central Queensland, you know what they are like.

“He doesn’t mind a rum or two. He knows how to have a good time and players enjoy his company but he also knows when to switch on and be responsible.”

Hunt is sometimes unfairly remembered for dropping the ball from the kick-off in golden point in the epic 2015 grand final loss to the North Queensland Cowboy.

But McCullough said every Brisbane player had made mistakes in that grand final that put them in the position where Benny made the mistake.

“We should never have been in that position,” said McCullough.

“The way Ben has bounced back from that is a testament to his character and another good lesson for young kids that you have to learn to tough it out.

“Look at what he has done for Queensland since in the Origin arena, he’s been great and people are talking about that more now.”

Hunt will have his own cheer squad in Townsville for his special night.

“In the forefront of his mind will be the fact that all his family and close friends are making the trip, said McCullough.

“I just hope all the boys in the Dragons team have a red-hot crack for him and make it a memorable night just like mine was.