Paul McGregor believes Queensland have defied their own “pick and stick” policy in axing St George Illawarra halfback Ben Hunt to the bench for State of Origin III.
Hunt has been relegated from the Maroons’ starting side for next Wednesday night’s clash in Brisbane as NSW attempt to complete their first clean sweep of Queensland since 2000.
The Dragons No.7 has led St George Illawarra to the top of the NRL table after 16 rounds but has paid the price for an unhappy showing in Origin II with Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans given a chance to end his own Origin exile.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters had earmarked Hunt to help lead Queensland into a new era without Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith before the start of the series.
And Dragons coach McGregor said the decision to drop Hunt to an interchange role after two Origin losses meant Queensland had gone against their fabled loyalty mantra.
“They haven’t lost for a while. Losing challenges you in all different areas,” he said.
“They’ve been very fortunate to have stability in their side. You talk about players in that team that will go down as all-time best in 10 years time. I’ll never see a couple of those players again in my lifetime.
“So for me it was a good opportunity this year for NSW. [Queensland have] lost the first two games, they’ve made change. That’s their choice.
“You ask me the question would I have made the change? No, definitely not. Am I disappointed for Ben? Absolutely. But he’s not in my care at the moment, he’s in Queensland’s care. He’s been working his whole life to play for Queensland.
“The pressure is a little bit off him and on others now so he can relax, enjoy the week. He’s still fortunate enough to be in the 17 which is a fantastic thing for any person to play for his state. They get the choice to choose who they feel their best squad is and Benny is still in that squad.”
McGregor was pleased with how Hunt responded to his Origin disappointment, getting St George Illawarra over the line against Parramatta in the last 20 minutes last Thursday night.
Hunt was in good spirits according to his coach despite the disappointment of his demotion, with McGregor backing Hunt to have a strong impact for Queensland off the bench.
“I’m definitely disappointed for Benny. I’m happy for NSW because I’m a New South Welshman. But I am certainly disappointed on an individual basis for Benny. However, he will do a very good job off the interchange. Certainly as a New South Welshman with Benny coming on in that dummy-half role one would think, he could cause some trouble late in the game,” he said.
“It sort of gives Queensland a different dimension. But I still feel that Benny didn’t do enough wrong but I’m not a selector or a Queenslander. So I’m happy as a New South Welshman that he won’t be wearing seven.
“He’s still an important member of their team. He’s not wearing their seven but he’s in their 17. He can still make a huge difference in his performance off the interchange when given the opportunity as a nine or a seven.”
