Ben Hunt’s decision to re-join the Brisbane Broncos appears to be bad news for Billy Walters, in what would be a brutal new blow for the family after father Kevin was sacked as coach. Hunt will initially play in the halves with Adam Reynolds while Ezra Mam is out, with Mam likely to be suspended for a large chunk of the start of the 2025 season.
But when Mam is back and the Broncos are at full strength, Hunt will likely revert to hooker so Mam can slot in at five-eighth. And with Hunt taking over at No.9, it could be bad news for Billy Walters.
Walters has established himself as Brisbane’s starting hooker over the last few years, and the 30-year-old has done a serviceable job. But he won’t start ahead of Hunt, and there’s reason to believe he might not be in the Broncos’ best 17 either.
Michael Maguire is more likely to prioritise young gun Blake Mozer, who appears a better option for a spot on the bench than Walters. The 20-year-old Mozer is highly-rated, and has even drawn comparisons to a young Cameron Smith.
With Hunt and Mozer the top two options at hooker for Maguire, it paints a grim picture for the likes of Walters, Tyson Smoothy and Cory Paix, who might be looking for a new club in the near future. Maguire said about Hunt this week: “I have spoken to him about playing at nine or in the halves. It’s a work in progress. To have the versatility of Hunt who has played at the highest level of nine (is a blessing). We have options (at hooker) which is nice to see at training. It’s competition within (and) it’s good for the team.”
Speaking on SEN radio on Thursday morning, veteran commentator Andrew Voss highlighted the reality of the situation. “If Ben Hunt is your starting nine, then he may as well play the 80 minutes,” Voss said. “A spine of (Reece) Walsh, Mam, Reynolds and Hunt would mean the other hookers are on the outer.”
