The Broncos have secured a 46-12 win in veteran halfback Ben Hunt’s 350th NRL game – and the little master proved to be the difference on Sunday afternoon.
The 35-year-old has enjoyed an impressive career, having made the move back to Brisbane ahead of the 2025 season after starting his career at the Red Hill club in 2009.
“It feels like a dream, it really does. I’ve had this week to reflect on it and I still can’t come up with the words to describe how special it is,” Hunt said post-match.
“From a little boy from the bush, the dream was to play one game. To clock up 350 and to do it with this great club it’s something I am very proud of.
“I think about the rollercoaster most weeks… I just love it mate, I love the game so much. As long as I can keep contributing at a high level I am going to keep playing.
“This game has given me everything so I am going to enjoy it while I can.”
While he’s been an integral figure in the Broncos’ finals charge this year, Hunt also delivered a mammoth performance against the Knights.
Hunt has his fingers all over the first try of the afternoon, helping Kotoni Staggs break the line before getting to dummy-half and once again finding his centre to score.
He went on to assist two more, while Kobe Hetherington was handed a present for his own milestone match.
Making his 100th first grade appearance, Reece Walsh broke away and turned around in the in-goal, and with no Knights defenders in sight he offloaded to Hetherington.
He only had to ground the ball to score in what was a special moment for the talented lock.
For the Knights, Leo Thompson and Bradman Best were able to score, having got themselves back into the clash at 20-12 with 26 minutes remaining.
However, Adam O’Brien’s side never fully threatened the Broncos, who put the game to bed after Payne Haas broke away to score with 20 minutes left in the clash while Walsh, Shibasaki, Mariner and Jordan Riki added to that blow late.
Newcastle now sit only two points ahead of the Titans after their latest loss, desperate to avoid a wooden spoon this season.
The Broncos, meanwhile, have now jumped to fifth on the NRL ladder, keeping their hopes of a top four finish alive and also cementing their finals spot.
HUNT PROVING MASTERSTROKE SIGNING FOR BRONCOS AMID INJURY WOES
Plenty of questions were asked as to how Ben Hunt would fit back in at the Broncos, given their settled spine, but his signing has proved a masterstroke amid their injury woes.
Hunt filled in for Ezra Mam at five-eighth early in the season, before moving to hooker and now to halfback after hamstring injuries to Adam Reynolds and Mam.
Playing in his 350th NRL game, Hunt led the Broncos to an important victory over the Knights to cement their top eight spot and move them into sixth with their top four hopes still alive.
Hunt had five linebreak assists and two try assists against the Knights, but it is his calming presence and kicking game in the absence of Reynolds that is keeping the Broncos on track in their title bid.
With Mam unlikely to be fit until the Grand Final, a combination of Hunt and Reynolds could be the answer for the Broncos as they make a run at a drought-breaking title.
Hunt has been a Mr Fix it for the Broncos in 2025, but he could play a crucial role in the halves in his bid to cap his remarkable career with a premiership and avenge the ghosts of the 2015 decider.
Speaking post-match, Reece Walsh also paid tribute to his experienced teammate.
“He’s awesome mate, I feel like once he came to this club he was driving standards from pre-season,” Walsh said.
“He is maturing some of us younger boys up, giving us tips and telling us where we need to be. It’s awesome to have someone like that in your team.”
