Fletcher Hunt discussion

Very often we seem to look at very young guys like they’re already the player they’ll be in their prime.

He’s fearless, he’s tough, and he’s a genuine target man for attacking kicks. He goes to the game and makes stuff happen.

That’s a strong foundation. He has a lot to work on to get to what we want him to be.

Definitely not a slight to look at a player and question whether they have the tools to be a week to week half or fullback. Dane Gagai, great player, decorated rep star, also doesn’t have enough in the kit bag to do it.
 
He has the memory of a goldfish.
Loves playing footy - makes a mistake - forgets about it and keeps having a go.

We had Shibasaki years ago. If he made a mistake in the first minute they should have hooked him off the field, because he was going to spill every pass and kick for the rest of the game.

Hunt just moves on and keeps playing.
 
Treadly said:
Hey, the dude almost got bundled into touch, so he tried again to get to the outside, and ended up in touch. But that did not deter him from having another crack.

He doesnt go into his shell and hide. Thats super positive. I love effort players vs latrel type super talented but lazy.
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See me personally I like the smart players, the type that might get bundled out twice, learn act like they will do it again before stepping in and catching someone lacking, I guess that comes down to just experience but I also don’t believe doing something that is clearly not working over and over again is good.

I’ve lightened up on Hunt a bit but he does need to work on things, I think a stint in reserve grade would do him and his confidence a world of good but I’m certainly not as against him as I was

I do agree that’s it’s good that he obviously doesn’t go into his shell just needs to channel that smarter
 
Sarge said:
Funny how last week everyone had him penciled in as Gags replacement . Our forwards need to have a good hard look in the mirror . As I said if the all had Crossland's heart we are too four easy
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If you look back, I've been calling Hunt out for his error's since late last season.
 
He basically came to us a few years ago from playing junior football in the bush.

He came as a 5/8 and didn't get a start in round 1 of SG Ball. Only an injury to star player Jye Linnane, who had just come off a great firstgrade pre-season and looked like he could take our Ball side all the way, saw Hunt rushed into the side - and Hunt went great - he was one of our best and took the Ball side to the grandfinal.

After the Ball season he had a great rest of the year as fullback in Flegg.

He was able to have that great year because he is just a naturally gifted kid. I don't even think he had a proper SG Ball pre-season - I think he was just a kid from a tiny outback town who kicked the ball around well. Our scouts spotted him at the schoolboy championships and probably thought he could eventually be trained up.

A month or so ago he went back to reserve grade and had an absolute shocker of a game. I think he was told to forget about trying to be safe and holding the ball and just do what your instincts tell you to do, and he spilt the ball about ten times by trying to do crazy offloads.

The point I'm trying to make - this kid is not a trained NRL robot with 6 or 7 years in an elite system - this is a natural athlete who is learning to play in firstgrade - he's the nearest we'll ever see to a bloke off the street, faking it till he makes it - and every games he's getting closer to making it.
 
The kids tough and always backs himself. He may not have had the benefit of coming through elite pathways from a young age, however came to us as a 18 year old straight out of country rugby league with Warren first grade. He doesn’t shy away from contact like some younger players do and appears to have creativity instilled in him from playing lots of backyard/park footy as a kid growing up in the bush. This kid has a good football brain and instinct for the game. He may not display the immense natural talent of a Toby Winter, however he will have a very good NRL career by doing it his way.
I have a suspicion that as he further develops physically over the next few years he could follow the likes of Wade Graham and Dylan Lucas into being a good edge forward, as the physicality wouldn’t bother him and he has the skill set. That transformation may be unlikely here considering the number of quality back rowers we have.
 
Interesting. He does have that lanky frame some edge forwards have, but I'd worry about too much weight undermining his best asset, his kick contesting.
 
That’s a fair call. His defence in the centres is fine when he is in motion, however when coming from a stationary position he has been exposed a few times, as in the case of Sasagi in the recent Raiders game from their scrum win 10 metres out. I know he competes hard in every play, however sometimes I feel that he just lacks that yard of pace and acceleration to be a very good centre. As you know you can’t coach that, Winter has no issues there.
 
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