Ben Hunt is about return to the NRL preliminary finals for the first time since 2015.
Yet as excited as the 35-year-old is, he’s also hurting for his makeshift Brisbane Broncos halves partner Billy Walters who suffered a likely season-ending ACL injury in the extra time victory over the Canberra Raiders.
“I’m absolutely shattered for Bill,” Hunt admitted on 100% Footy.
“Guys like Patty, Payne and Reece have been getting a lot of the raps, but I think Billy has been the one who’s really stood up for us.”
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“He’s been playing some excellent footy and it’s really disappointing for him and for us that he’s probably going to miss out (on the rest of the finals),” Hunt added.
“I’m hurting for Bill, poor bugger.”
‘It was the reason I came back’
While it’s likely to be Adam Reynolds and not Billy Walters alongside him, when Hunt runs out on to Suncorp Stadium against the winner of the Bulldogs-Panthers semi final it will be the deepest he’s played into an NRL season since week two of the 2018 finals with the Dragons.
“It has been a minute,” Hunt laughed, acknowledging his almost decade-long wait for a chance at finals redemption.
“But to be honest, it was the reason I came back to the club, I believe we have a great roster here and I had a lot of belief in Madge taking over.
“Just to be out there on Sunday playing that game, whether we won or lost, I’m super excited to be back playing finals, it’s all coming together.”