Ben Hunt's promotion to the Maroons' starting broadside worked a charm for Queensland, with the hooker claiming antheral of the lucifer honours successful their 20-18 Origin III win.
After coming disconnected the interchange and playing 46 minutes successful Queensland's Game Two defeat, Hunt returned to his acquainted relation of hooker successful what proved to beryllium 1 the astir influential changes by manager Paul Green arsenic the Maroons avoided a cleanable expanse with a 20-18 triumph implicit the Blues.
Hunt, who had replaced Andrew McCullough astatine No.9, finished the lucifer with 41 tackles and 2 tries.
But arguably his champion play of the nighttime mightiness person been the turnover helium forced erstwhile helium landed a perfectly timed changeable to the ribs of Blues prima Latrell Mitchell, who knocked the shot connected during a important antiaircraft acceptable for the Maroons successful the 2nd half.
Hunt turns crippled for Maroons
"He showed what helium tin bash astatine No.9 and I situation accidental helium volition beryllium putting his manus up for that relation adjacent year," said legendary Queensland fullback and existent selector Billy Slater.
While Storm young weapon Harry Grant has been the first-choice hooker arsenic of precocious erstwhile fit, Maroons fable Cameron Smith - Queensland's iconic erstwhile No.9 and skipper - admits Hunt is present a just accidental adjacent play to situation for the position.
"He's played a batch of typical shot successful the 9 position. Played immoderate clip determination from the interchange bench," Smith said.
"You couldn't prime him determination for Game One. Harry Grant was acceptable and he's astir apt Queensland's No.1 dummy-half, first-choice dummy-half.
"But ... there's got to beryllium immoderate question marks adjacent twelvemonth implicit wherever it goes with the No.9."
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