BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett says Karmichael Hunt should be considered the incumbent Test full-back and retained ahead of in-form Melbourne star Billy Slater for next month's Centenary Test against New Zealand.
Bennett launched a spirited defence of Hunt after yesterday's 34-22 National Rugby League win over Newcastle, saying the Broncos' custodian only lost his Test jumper to Manly's Brett Stewart after missing the last part of 2007 with a hamstring injury.
The former Kangaroos coach said Test selectors had shown faith with incumbents in the past, if playing well, and believes Hunt should not be overlooked.
"(Hunt) is the incumbent full-back and I've worked with the Australian selectors before and if you've done the job for them in the past they're always pretty keen to put you back there if you're playing well," Bennett said. "There's certainly nothing wrong with his form."
Storm full-back Slater is believed to be leading the race for the No. 1 jumper after his two-try heroics in Melbourne's 26-4 win over Stewart's Sea Eagles on Friday night.
But Bennett dismissed the notion that Slater and Stewart were the only full-backs in contention.
"That's pretty much one of you guys (media) coughing and everybody else gets the flu," he said. "You all run off each other unfortunately, not many independent thinkers amongst you."
Hunt didn't want to talk up his Test chances yesterday, instead doing that on the field with a superb 50-metre individual try on half-time, weaving through the defence to give his side a match-winning three-try buffer.
"I would love to be a part of it," said Hunt of the May 9 Test at the SCG.
"It doesn't concern me what people are talking about. I just like to go about my football and keep my head out of the media."
Newcastle's Kurt Gidley, meanwhile, would welcome the chance to fill the contentious NSW half-back role.
The list of potential Blues half-backs is enormous with Brett Kimmorley, Matt Orford, Todd Carney, Brett Finch, Peter Wallace, Mitchell Pearce and Jarrod Mullen all possible options.
Gidley has the support of former NSW coach Phil Gould and showed his potential yesterday, scoring two tries and then leading his side's comeback.
Canberra star Carney did his chances no harm, setting up four tries and scoring another as the Raiders fought back to beat Wests Tigers 30-24 yesterday.
After weekend matches the Broncos, Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast share the NRL lead with four wins from five games.
The Titans beat Parramatta 28-20 on Friday and the Roosters disposed of Penrith 28-12 on Saturday night.
New Zealand Warriors scored two late tries to fend off a Bulldogs revival with a 36-16 win in Auckland yesterday while North Queensland made it successive wins with a 20-16 triumph over St George Illawarra on Saturday night.
AAP
