Redemption is Hard Won In Sport

Ben Hunt has long been one of the best players in the NRL. But he has also been one of the most maligned. He is so maligned because in the 2015 Grandfinal he dropped the ball in extra time and shortly after one of the greatest half backs that had ever played the game, the Cowboys Jonathan Thurston, slotted a field goal and took the win from the Brisbane Broncos. 

Hunt took the blame for that loss. But most people forget that it was a misread in defence from one of the Broncos wingers that allowed the Cowboys to take the game to extra time. And Jonathan Thurston is the kind of player you do not want to face in extra time. As every fan of State of Origin knows.  

For many Broncos fans it was too much for them to forgive Benny, and a few years later he left the Broncos to pursue redemption at the St George Dragons. But on Wednesday night he washed away all of that history to stamp himself as a Queensland great:

"2,474 days.

That's how long it took Ben Hunt to complete his redemption arc within the wild series of events that is rugby league.

Hunt had been haunted by the 2015 Grand Final for almost seven years. His dropped ball of the kick-off, as simple an error as it was, has been replayed in highlights packages for the entirety of those seven years.

The 32-year-old had become a punching bag for the media and fans. His form since arriving at the Dragons in 2018 on a rich long-term deal had ranged from brilliant to a basket case, as the Red V struggled to make the finals each year. 

Since the arrival of fellow Rockhampton boy Anthony Griffin as head coach at the start of 2021, Hunt's game has evolved. He has become a leader at club and Origin level, a more complete playmaker and a player filled with confidence."

Social media was awash with people's comments about how Ben Hunt was finally forgiven, for his incredible winning play. 

I am happy for Hunt. Professional sport is a brutal business. The fans are hard to please, there is always competition for the players spot, even when they are on top there are other players clamoring for their position. He has always been one of my favourite players since he debuted in 2009, and he has consistenty performed at a high level ever since. Redemption is hard won in sport, but he has done that in spades with his brilliant winning plays for Queensland on Wednesday night. 

Hunt, and players like him, should be an inspiration to anyone who wants to succeed in life. So many people let failure define them, and let disappointment overrule them. When things get too tough many give up, check out and are never heard from again. But there are those who take their failures and allow these failures to motivate them to press on. This is a lesson not everybody heeds. 

Failure only defines you if you let it. Moses nearly let it define him, but look what he became when he heeded God's call. Joseph turned his failure into success for himself and the world, with the empowerment of God behind him. So many people would have just given up completely in their situations. The school of failure is one of the most important schools to pass through if you want to make it in this life. Major Ian Thomas has brilliant insights about this here. 

I celebrate with Hunt, such a quality player should be remembered for his highlights, not the lowlights. But more than that I take inspiration from watching a man not allow failure to define him. Let's not ever let it define us.