Ben Hunt must think he’s died and finally gone to heaven, after a decade-long wait for redemption finally came to an end at Homebush on Sunday evening, with the Brisbane Broncos lifting the NRL trophy.
The 350-gamer, now 35 and staring down the end of his career, has long held one of the most heartbreaking stories in rugby league: Dropping the ball off the kick-off in the Brisbane vs. North Queensland decider in 2015. The mistake, though just one of many plays across the 90 minutes, was etched into folklore as the knock-on that lost the big dance.
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Ten years later, and with a return to his hometown club, the Broncos, after agitating for and finally being granted a release from the St George Illawarra Dragons, the halfback-cross-hooker-cross-halves veteran is an NRL champion – and it’s the milestone he “always dreamt of,” the much-relieved veteran said after the final whistle sounded on Sunday night.
“I don’t know if it’s a weight off the shoulders or it’s just OK for me to talk about the ’15 grand final now I’ve moved on,” Hunt said, jokingly adding that he’d put the ring on a broken finger so it won’t come off.
“I can’t count [the sleepless nights since],” the newly-crowned champion added.
“I’ve dreamt of it for the last 10 years. It’s taken 350-plus games, but honestly, it’s all worth it.
“All the hard yards with the family, the friends and coaches that have put time into me over the years, it’s a little bit of payment for them.”
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Even standing on the sideline with streamers blowing and cheers ringing out – many the loudest for him, after tearing the monkey off his back – Hunt was still thinking about all the long nights where he’d thought the title would forever be beyond him.
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“There were definitely times where you think [an NRL title] is not going to come,” the 35-year-old admitted.
“I definitely didn’t think I would have the opportunity to come back to this great club. It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made, I think.
“To be honest, when I left the Dragons, there was no doubt in my mind where I wanted to go, but things had to work out.”
He continued: “I had the belief in this team, and they had been in a final two years prior. I just wanted to come back and give back any way I could. Two months ago, it hit home that we had an opportunity, and we had to push for it.
“It’s a dream come true,” he concluded, and with Hunt, you can absolutely believe him.
