Superman Shaun is good enough for Super League
Last updated 11:37, Friday, 20 June 2008
I’D heard that Workington Town hooker Shaun Lunt was a major talent but didn’t believe he could live up the billing. Boy, was I wrong.
I’ve seen him a few times this season and this kid is a fantastic prospect.
League Two Town have a handful of players who could prosper at a higher level – Dean Burgess, Stephen Dawes and Carl Forber spring immediately to mind – but Lunt is a different class.
He made Blackpool defenders look statuesque – more like Towers than Panthers – in scoring an amazing long-distance try at Derwent Park on Sunday, showing great pace and stepping off both feet on the way to the whitewash.
I’m told it was a carbon copy of his touch downs in Town’s previous matches against London Skolars and Swinton.
Some very good judges believe his future lies in Super League. He was a key member of St Helens’ Academy side as a youngster and clearly picked up some great habits at Knowsley Road.
Many hookers excel in one or two areas. They may be rugged defenders with a phenomenal work-rate, or be nippy around dummy-half with an eye for the try-line.
Lunt has the lot. He even possesses a strong kicking game.
Town boss Dave Rotheram, who worked with the great Keiron Cunningham and fellow No 9 James Roby, the current Super League Man of Steel, when assistant coach at St Helens, knows a good ’un when he sees one, and he’s a huge Lunt fan.
Now 22, he’s been NL2 young-player-of-the-year for the past two years, so his talent has been noted outside Cumbria.
Last season he was Town’s top try-scorer with 19 in 26 appearances. Of course, it’s easier to excel in League Two than at a higher level.
And if he moves through the divisions, his effectiveness may be blunted a little. But we’ll never know if he’s not given the chance.
For Town’s sake, I hope he stays at Derwent Park and is able to progress via that route.
Though with a greater onus on domestic talent in Super League these days, why have a club such as Wakefield not come calling?
The Wildcats have shown a keen eye for a talented lower league player, Haven scrum-half Sam Obst for one.
Ex-Featherstone half-back Jamie Rooney is another, and Peter Fox and Matt Blaymire, outstanding in a struggling York side in 2006, both made their mark at Wakefield last term.
Come to think of it, West Cumbria really is spoiled for No 9s at present. Haven pair Graeme Mattinson and Carl Sice complement each other perfectly.
Then there’s Recre youngster Chris Smith. He was mentioned to me several times early-season by Haven insiders in the same breath as Gregg McNally, long before either had a sniff of first-team action. He’s another for the future, perhaps the near-future.
West Cumbria boasts some outstanding young talent at present. Local fans should appreciate it while they can.
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