Brisbane's hit-and-miss effort against the Roosters raised more than a few questions about their premiership credentials. Their defence was shoddy in sections, while their big men weren't able to match it with their opposite numbers in the early exchanges.

Hunt was one of their better players and has done an impressive job to shift from halfback to hooker late in the season. But it's become increasingly clear that McCullough's toughness and relentless defence through the middle has been sorely missed by Brisbane.

Wayne Bennett had little choice but to relocate his first-choice halfback when McCullough went down with a serious knee injury late in the season. Hunt had a flying start and brings slick ball-playing to the role.

But it takes seasons to build up the kind of resilience for a little man to spend 80 minutes tackling stampeding props and locks. Hunt has had just a few months.

"One hundred per cent [I appreciate him more]. I don't even think I'm close to some of the tackle [counts] he does and I'm blowing in there sometimes," Hunt said.

"I really appreciate what he brought to the team. I always knew it was a hard role, playing a little bit of hooker back in the day. I'm starting to get used to it now, starting to feel a bit better condition-wise."

Regardless of the result, Hunt will be playing his final home game for the Broncos after starting at the club in 2008, when was named the under-20s player of the year.

He will move to the Dragons and return to his favoured halfback role but in the meantime, will try and perfect dummy-half duties for Brisbane as they try to move past the Panthers and set up a preliminary final against Melbourne.

Fitness is now becoming less of an issue as Hunt adapts to the hugely increased workloads. But he says he still finds himself trying to balance more defence with ensuring he can run and attack when the gaps present.

"I've had a lot of pre-seasons so I felt pretty fit going into the season and kept pretty fit. It's just a matter of getting used to doing more tackles and less running.

"It is tricky at times. If you go into a game focusing too much on tackling, those opportunities go by when you need to run. I feel I've got to try and take my opportunities when I can."

Hunt said he was doing his best to focus on the duties at hand rather than look back on his eventful tenure at the Broncos.

"I don't think I'm too emotional yet and I don't think I will be before the game or during the game. When it comes to an end, I might get a bit emotional when I look around and try to take it all in then."