The huge ‘all-in’ gamble that capped off Ben Hunt’s ‘astonishing’ State of Origin statement

It was a split-second decision from Ben Hunt but when the Queensland hooker went to charge down a Nathan Cleary chip kick in the 78th minute on Wednesday, time seemed to stand still.

The Suncorp faithful rose to their feet in unison, a sea of maroon cheering Hunt on as the 32-year-old raced away to score the match and series-sealing try.

It was a fitting reward for Hunt, who only last year came up with three plays in 10 minutes to earn man-of-the-match honours in Game 3.

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No matter the situation — be it a series-defining decider or dead rubber — Hunt stands tall in the biggest moments, willing to put everything on the line like he did in the 78th minute.

That was not the only time that Hunt separated himself from the rest to shift the momentum of the game.

Take his 40-20 in the 58th minute or a one-on-one steal earlier in the half, always competing and never giving up on the play.

Even Fittler pointed to that 40-20 as a “big play” in the context of the game after the Blues had worked hard to gain crucial field position.

But it was Hunt’s late heroics that will see him go down in Origin folklore and Cooper Cronk said that moment was emblematic of his strengths as a whole.

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“He was a huge part of their success this year and it just sums him up that last play,” Cronk said on Fox League’s post-game show.

“All-in, 79th minute, he goes to charge down, that’s rocks or diamonds. That’s back to Cleary or Tedesco for the match-winning play or he catches it and runs the length in front of 52,500 people. He’s been enormous.

“I remember playing Ben Hunt’s first debut game for Queensland and he was always a nuggety halfback that was tenacious, he liked to be in the competition of things.

“But the way that he has evolved in terms of his leadership at the Dragons, leading the Dally M before it went behind closed doors, to the performance he has put in for Queensland and out of position.

“What he’s done this year in tandem with Harry Grant has been astonishing.”

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Michael Ennis, meanwhile, said that while Hunt may not have taken home the Wally Lewis medal for man of the series, he would be “surprised” if the hooker did not win Players’ Player.

“The players would appreciate what he’s done,” Ennis said.

“He’s been phenomenal throughout the series.”