Halfback Ben Hunt has declared himself a certain starter for Wednesday’s State of Origin opener in Melbourne after all three Queenslanders under an injury cloud trained strongly.
Hunt (thigh) had until Sunday to prove his fitness and impressed in an opposed session with the Queensland under-18 side at the Maroons’ Gold Coast training camp, along with Billy Slater (hamstring) and Josh McGuire (ankle).
The St George Illawarra star admitted to some anxious moments as he raced the clock to make his Origin starting debut but said he was “ready to go”.
“At the start of the week you are a bit nervous, the physios are holding you back but the more the week went on the better I felt,” Hunt said.
“I had a full contact session and I got through that fine – I am ready to go.
“The physio said it (corked thigh) is all sweet now.
“It’s just a cork and it’s completely gone now. He (physio) said there’s no chance of (aggravating) it unless I get another hit on it, but that can happen anywhere.”
Hunt will be asked to step up at No.7 as Queensland begin a new chapter without retired Maroons greats Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
After Queensland also overlooked veterans Matt Scott and Darius Boyd, the Maroons will be without a total of 151 Origin games’ experience for Origin I at the MCG.
“We have a few new players in the team and every player who comes out wants to cement their spot,” Hunt said.
“I want to do my best to play well to start with and hopefully cement my spot for the future.”
Despite making his Origin debut off the bench in game three last year, Hunt admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect in a new Maroons halves combination with Melbourne’s Cameron Munster.
“I’m not really going to know until I get out there and experience the game,” he said.
“I know I had nine minutes last year or whatever it was, but it was at the back end of the game so this will be different – I have to handle it the best I can.
“But to have the opportunity now, it’s something I’m really looking forward to and I will try and enjoy it.”
The Queensland team held their final session at their Gold Coast camp on Sunday before flying to Melbourne on Monday.
