Broncos veteran Ben Hunt turns 36 midway through the season but if he has his way, it won’t be his last in the NRL.
Hunt, who has chalked up 355 games for Brisbane and St George Illawarra since his debut in 2009, told reporters on Tuesday that he had no plans to retire and wanted to show Broncos management that he deserves another contract.
And he confirmed he will be lining up at hooker this season, starting with next month’s World Club Challenge, after filling in mainly at the halves in 2025.
Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds are fully fit after hamstring injuries sidelined them late last season and they will form Michael Maguire’s halves combination for the premiership defence.
“I’ll be at hooker,” Hunt said.
“That’s where I have been training all pre-season.
“I’ve had a long conversation with Madge about our best spine and that is me playing at No.9 and Reyno at No.7.
“I believe that is how we get the best performance out of our team.”
Hunt added that there was a chance that this may be the final season of his career but that is not his long-term plan.
“It could be but at this point I don’t want it to be,” he said.
“I still feel in good shape and I can perform for the club.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire and assistant Trent Barrett. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“It’s a long way to get to the end of the season but that is the way I am feeling at the moment.”
His main goal is to get the Broncos back to grand final glory after helping snap the club’s 19-year premiership drought last season.
“Two is better than one,” he said.
“I’m still hungry for success for this club. I just want to win another one.
“I got a taste for it and when you feel how special that is it just makes you want to go again.
“You still need a lot of luck with injuries but it is Madge’s second season at the club and we are starting at a higher level than where we started last year.
“All the boys came back in better shape and we know what to expect now.”
They face Hull KR for the World Club Challenge trophy on February 19 in England in their only pre-season hit-out leading into their Round 1 showdown with Penrith in Brisbane on March 6.
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