After surprising many to start the 2024 NRL season, the St George Illawarra Dragons suffered their heaviest defeat of the year at the hands of the Sydney Roosters on the annual ANZAC Day clash.
The Dragons opened the scoring in the 5th minute but capitulated after that, conceding 30 straight points before halftime, which all but sealed the fate of the contest.
The Roosters went on to score another 30 points in the second half to secure a 60-18 win, making it the first time a team has crossed over the 50-point mark this year.
When discussing the shocking performance from the Dragons, the club’s skipper didn’t beat around the bush with his review but opened up on the high emotions of playing on ANZAC Day.
“It (was a) very disappointing game, especially on what is such a special day for us, very, very disappointing,” Hunt told SEN 1170 NRL Crunch Time.
“The hard thing on that day for most guys is really trying to control their emotions, it’s such a big build-up.
“You have guy come in during the week, current soldiers and ex-soldiers, they’re talking to you about what they’ve done and what they’ve been through… in comparison to what we do it’s not real much.
“It relly gets you worked up and you get really excited before the game has started, you sort of burn a lot of energy, you’ve got to really find a way to control that.
“We probably didn’t do that too well by the looks of the game.”
The ANZAC Day clash between the Dragons and Roosters became an annual tradition in 2002 and eventually expanded to three games across the day with the Warriors and Storm also playing host to games.
“It’s something that’s really hard to describe to people, when you’re out on that field and ready to do battle and they start playing the last post, it really just gives you chills,” Hunt added.
“For me, firstly I just think of how lucky we are just to be playing such a special game on that day knowing all those men and women that sacrificed for us to be here and playing that game, it’s very emotional.”
The Dragons will be looking to bounce back next Sunday in a tough matchup against their cross-town rivals the Cronulla Sharks.