Ben Hunt, a 35-year-old father of two, was the NRL’s final score that made history. In early 2021, he at last won the premiership dreamt of for so long. For Hunt, it has taken more than 350 games. For over 10 years now, he’s seen the highs and lows. This latest victory cements him as the most capped first-time premiership winner of all time. It really is a testament to his doggedness and commitment.
This triumph at the premiership level comes after years of insomniac organizing. In these conversations, Hunt candidly recognized the enormous challenges he faced head-on while fighting to achieve this lofty overall goal. He was under contract through 2026, but many are speculating that this inspiring victory may be enough to prompt his retirement. It might provide him with just the right out to exit the game while still holding his legacy unblemished.
Hunt has given a career-defining performance that would harken back to his glory days in the under-20s loop. His undeniable talent has once again this week forced him into the national spotlight. He garnered accolades as the best player on the field during the 2015 season with the Broncos, yet he experienced the harsh reality of losing that premiership.
“There was definitely times you think it’s never gonna come. I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to come back to this great club,” said Hunt.
His trips have seen former teammates turn into coaches, as players such as Ben Te’o help instruct today’s younger generation. Hunt’s capacity to ride the wave of this new evolution is a testament to his characteristic versatility and adaptability as a rider.
His professional life had finally hit the big time, but not without barriers. Sweet, Hunt got a bad cut just like in the recent NRL grand final match, cutting his play short with traumatic head injury. Though they denied him a chance at the Orange Bowl, he was beaming following the game. Tears of relief and joy streamed down his face as his long-sought victory became reality.
“When the siren went it hit me like a tonne of bricks. It really knocked me around,” Hunt recalled, expressing the overwhelming emotion that enveloped him upon securing the championship.
Former great Darren Lockyer, now a Rugby League commentator, recalled Hunt’s arrival as a teen prodigy.
“He was from Rocky and he loved a rum and Coke, but he was a competitor. In the under-20s he was a stand-out, so there was a lot of talk about Ben Hunt coming through,” Lockyer shared.
Beyond Hunt’s on-field impact, Lockyer acknowledged that Hunt’s character shines through away from the field.
“He was a character, and he reminded me a bit of Alf [Allan Langer] – he’s a larrikin and a joker, loves a beer, but once he gets on the field he just competes,” Lockyer added.
The gravitas of Hunt’s story was certainly better understood by his new teammates. As Staggs said, it was a special experience for him to see Hunt’s struggles and success.
“I didn’t get to play with him the first time he was here. But I remember being a young kid and watching 2015 and I cried myself. I felt for Benny so much,” Staggs remarked.
Hunt’s perseverance in overcoming past disappointments resonated with many players, including Lockyer who noted that perhaps last year’s experiences would have caused him to doubt his chances for redemption.
“Maybe last year, he might think he’d never get the chance to right the wrongs of 2015 but everything in life happens for a reason,” Lockyer explained.
As Hunt celebrated with fellow teammates, including Adam Reynolds—one of the last Broncos to leave the field—he emphasized that this victory was not just for him but for everyone who has supported him throughout his career.
“It was meant to be, for him to come and have this opportunity,” Lockyer concluded, remarking on the significance of Hunt’s achievement.
