St George-Illawarra Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has admitted he is desperate to win back his Queensland Maroons number seven jersey.
Following two less than impressive performances in the halves for the Maroons in games one and two which led to the Blues winning just their second State of Origin series in 13 years, Queensland coach Kevin Walters moved Hunt from the starting side onto the bench into the No. 14 jersey.
Manly Sea Eagles playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans was brought in to replace Hunt in the starting side and was arguably the Maroons best player in the final match which saw Queensland prevail 18-12.
Hunt also had his best game of the series coming off the bench. The 28-year-old played 50 minutes in total during game three, sparking an unusually stagnant attack when he came into the play as dummy-half.
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Regardless of how well he played, and how impressive DCE was in his return to the Origin fold, Hunt has revealed that we wants that jersey back.
"I'd love to have the number seven jumper back," Hunt said on 100% Footy.
"At the end of the day, I'd love to be in the side anywhere but the position I'd like to play is halfback, that's where I've played all my footy throughout my career, and if I can get that position back I'd be doing my best to hold it again."
Hunt has now played four Origin games for the Maroons since the 2017 series, playing two games in the halves and two on the bench.
Both games that Hunt has started for Queensland he has lost.
While the Blues won the series, the Maroons were able to send out Billy Slater a winner as the legend played his 31st and final match in a Queensland jersey.
Hunt admitted that there was an unfamiliar atmosphere in the sheds post-match.
"It was a very strange feeling winning a big game like that and then turning around and realising we didn't win it all," Hunt said.
"But there was hope, we know we've got a quality squad, and that just gave us a bit more belief in what we were doing.
"It was really good to get that one win, it means a lot leading into next year."
