Broncos Faithful Demand Ben Hunt’s Return to Starting Line-up After World Club Challenge Stumble
The Brisbane Broncos faithful are making their voices heard, with a significant groundswell of support urging coach Michael Maguire to reinstate veteran playmaker Ben Hunt to the starting halves for the upcoming NRL season opener. The sentiment among many fans is clear: Ezra Mam should be shifted to the interchange bench. This clamour comes in the wake of the Broncos’ disappointing 30-24 defeat to Hull KR in the World Club Challenge on Thursday night, a fixture the Brisbane club hasn’t conquered since 1992.
Maguire’s team selection for the World Club Challenge raised a few eyebrows, particularly his decision to name Hunt on the bench. The preferred halves pairing for the match was Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds, with Cory Paix occupying the hooker role. This was a departure from the successful formula that saw Hunt, playing at five-eighth (No.6), spearhead the Broncos’ formidable second-half charge to the 2025 NRL premiership. He was instrumental in that grand final victory against the Melbourne Storm, donning the No.6 jersey.
During the latter stages of the 2025 NRL finals series, Mam adopted a potent “super-sub” role, making impactful appearances off the bench. He even started the grand final on the interchange. However, Maguire opted for a different strategy for their first competitive outing of 2026, deploying Mam as the starting five-eighth and relegating Hunt to the bench.
The immediate aftermath of the Broncos’ loss to Hull KR has seen fans vociferously calling for Maguire to reverse this decision. Ezra Mam, in his starting No.6 role, struggled to find his rhythm against the English outfit. While he managed to register a line-break and six tackle busts, his overall performance was marred by a number of uncharacteristic errors, failing to ignite the Broncos’ attack as many had hoped.
It wasn’t until Ben Hunt entered the fray in the second half that the Broncos’ attacking prowess truly began to click into gear. The team subsequently unleashed a flurry of tries, scoring four in a rapid 16-minute period. The try-scorers during this resurgence were Pat Carrigan, Deine Mariner, Gehamat Shibasaki, and Kotoni Staggs. With Hunt orchestrating play, the Broncos displayed the kind of attacking dominance that characterised their premiership-winning campaign in 2025, leading to widespread fan frustration that this potency wasn’t on display from the outset.
Fan Reaction: A Clear Mandate for Hunt
The online sphere has been abuzz with commentary from disgruntled Broncos supporters. Social media platforms have become a sounding board for their opinions, with many directly addressing the selection dilemma.
- One fan articulated the prevailing sentiment, stating: “Ben Hunt should have started. Game changed once he finally got on.”
- Another fan was blunt in their assessment of Mam’s performance: “Ezra Mam is having a stinker.”
- A third supporter expressed a clear preference: “Genuinely should’ve started Hunt at 6, much better player than Mam.”
These comments reflect a widespread belief that Hunt’s experience and leadership are vital from the opening whistle, particularly in high-stakes matches.
Maguire’s Selection Conundrum Ahead of Penrith Clash
Michael Maguire now faces a significant selection challenge as he prepares for the Broncos’ official NRL season opener against the formidable Penrith Panthers on March 6th. The decision of who will partner Adam Reynolds in the halves will be a critical one, with the performance against Hull KR undoubtedly weighing heavily on his mind.
Prior to the World Club Challenge, Maguire acknowledged the dynamic nature of his squad’s halves rotation. He commented, “That’s gonna keep evolving. At some stage we will change, whether I feel it’s the right thing to do or whether the team feels it’s the right thing to do. Having the ability of someone like Hunty to come off the bench is pretty handy for us.”
However, the events of Thursday night have amplified the calls for that “change” to happen sooner rather than later. The Broncos’ ability to bounce back from this World Club Challenge loss and establish a strong start to their NRL campaign will hinge, in part, on Maguire’s ability to find the right combination in the halves. The overwhelming fan sentiment suggests that Ben Hunt’s inclusion in the starting line-up is the most logical and popular path forward. The coming weeks will reveal whether Maguire heeds the passionate pleas of the Broncos faithful.
