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The road to 350: Ben Hunt opens up on his journey to record milestone
Sam Kosack • August 20th, 2025 3:02 pm
When Ben Hunt runs out onto McDonalds Jones on Saturday, he’ll become the sixth player in history to play 350 games in the NRL.
It’s an incredible achievement for the 35-year-old, who, when Titans’ veteran Kieran Foran retires at season’s end, will be the last remaining player to have debuted in the 2000s.
Hunt will join the likes of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Darren Lockyer, Terry Lamb in the 350-game club, as well as former Maroons teammate Daly Cherry-Evans, who will reach the milestone the day before.
Speaking on SENQ, Hunt revealed the enormity of his achievement hadn’t sunk in just yet.
“It feels surreal, I definitely never could have imagined playing 350 games when I was a young kid in Dingo. I never could have imagined playing one game,” Hunt admitted.
“To get to this milestone and you have a look at the names that have done it before me, it’s definitely something special.
“Just to be put in the same sort of area as those types of players is crazy to think about.
“My old mate Chez (Cherry-Evans), old longneck just pipped me, he’ll get into the club before me but super proud and happy for him as well.
“We’re going to have a big crew down there… that’s what footy’s about. I’m glad I can share all these experiences with my family and some close friends and get them down there and enjoy the moment with me.”
Debuting for the Broncos in 2009, Hunt moved to the St George-Illawarra Dragons in 2018, leading the club until his fairytale return to Brisbane, where he will likely finish his career.
Hunt has had his fair share of victories and shining moments throughout his career, most notably his intercept from Origin Game III in 2022, which sealed a series victory for the Maroons.
Hunt has played in winning Origin series and World Cup victories but in reflecting on his career, there was one moment that stood out for Hunt in particular.
“There's always gonna be that origin try. That’s a special moment personally but your debut,” Hunt said.
“I got flogged in my debut down in Cronulla but just playing one game of NRL is something as a kid you always dream about.
“So that was always a real special moment for me.”
Hunt has also endured his fair share of adversity. From the infamous dropped ball in the 2015 grand final to his messy exit from the Dragons at the end of last year, Hunt is no stranger to his name being in the headlines.
Hunt’s move to the Dragons on a lucrative long-term deal attracted great attention and the former Dragons’ captain revealed how the move to Sydney impacted him more than he anticipated.
“There was definitely some huge challenges and I guess I probably didn't quite understand how big of a deal it was when I first signed it, but it definitely hit me pretty hard once I got down to Sydney and all the media,” Hunt confessed.
“It was definitely something that made me grow up pretty fast, and learn how to be a man and take a lot of criticism.
“But in the end it’s definitely something I don’t regret.
“I really enjoyed our time down in Sydney and if I had my time over, I'd do it again.
“It was a great opportunity for myself and my family, and we enjoyed it.”
