Ben Hunt’s distinctive NRL journey has taken one other twist with St George Illawarra saying it was terminating his contract efficient instantly.
Hunt was contracted for the 2025 season, however the Dragons mentioned they “reached an settlement” to permit their captain and halfback to look elsewhere.
It has been a very long time coming.
Hunt has publicly needed out of the Dragons for greater than 12 months, however the scenario turned untenable this 12 months.
So, how did we get right here and the place will the Dragons and Hunt go now that the inevitable has lastly occurred?
Dragging on on the Dragons
Hunt’s 2024 season was a combined bag. (Getty Photographs: Matt King)
Hunt arrived on the Dragons in 2018 after his time on the Brisbane Broncos petered out within the aftermath of their brutal loss within the 2015 grand last.
Shortly earlier than the beginning of his first season in Wollongong, Hunt’s spouse Bridget had a miscarriage at 12 weeks, with the pair privately struggling and admitting to feeling remoted after having simply moved away from their assist community in Queensland.
On the sphere, Hunt struggled to stay as much as the stress and scrutiny of his five-year deal, believed to be round $1 million a season, regardless of being an everyday for the Kangaroos and Maroons in that interval, albeit largely as a bench utility.
In 2020, Hunt began the season as co-captain, however by spherical 4 was shuffled from his most popular halfback place, enjoying five-eighth, hooker and coming off the bench for a lot of the 12 months as coach Paul McGregor desperately tried to spark his crew and save his job.
The Dragons limped to twelfth and McGregor was let go halfway by the season, changed by Hunt’s former Below-20s and NRL coach in Brisbane, Anthony Griffin.
Griffin reinstated Hunt as his full-time quantity seven and named him captain. After ending tenth in 2022 — a fourth straight 12 months lacking the finals — Hunt re-signed by 2025.
“It is a pleasing day for my household and I. I’m very pleased we have been capable of come to an settlement as I all the time needed to stick with the Dragons,” he mentioned.
“I’m excited by the course the membership is headed and I am very a lot trying ahead to enjoying my half within the Dragons’ journey within the coming years.”
Just a few months later, the story was very completely different. Griffin was axed in Might after a 2-8 begin to the season, and the following month the membership confirmed Hunt had requested for a launch however was denied.
To Hunt’s credit score, he knuckled down and all the time gave the impression to be giving his all for the crew, however a second-last end was one other painful finish to his sixth 12 months with the membership.
The connection between Ben Hunt and coach Shane Flanagan appeared to bitter. (Getty Photographs: Bradley Kanaris)
Shane Flanagan arrived this season and breathed new life into the membership however there was drama early when winger Zac Lomax was allowed out of the final two years of his contract.
Queensland coach Billy Slater, amongst others, accused the membership of getting “double requirements” for not being as accommodating with Hunt.
As soon as once more, the Dragons completed only one recreation out of the finals in 2024 whereas Hunt led the league in strive assists, kicks and kicking metres, incomes State of Origin and worldwide caps alongside the way in which.
There have been hopes by the season that Hunt and the Dragons may conform to an extension, or at the least have him see out his present contract, however issues devolved.
After the State of Origin interval, extension talks for 2026 have been placed on the backburner.
“We mentioned we might kick it down the street just a little bit and see how the season finishes,” Flanagan informed the Sydney Morning Herald final week.
“He is 35 years outdated so that you need to see how the season begins.”
In that very same interview, Flanagan mentioned he felt he had “an honest relationship with Ben” though he did admit to being “annoyed” by a few of Hunt’s current feedback.
There have been experiences from late within the season that Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson may make the change to St George Illawarra, and Hunt mentioned he might be a great match within the halves for the Dragons.
That might solely actually be taken one among two methods, and neither would put a smile on the coach’s face.
Both Hunt was saying as soon as once more that he did not need to be there, or he was suggesting he’d somewhat play alongside Gutherson than pair with present five-eighth Kyle Flanagan, who occurs to be the coach’s son.
“I am not fairly positive which approach he was going with that one. I will speak to Ben about that,” Shane Flanagan informed the SMH.
“It was a wierd one and just a little bit irritating, to be sincere.”
5 days after that interview went stay, Hunt has his want, with Flanagan saying he’s “an distinctive participant” whose “ability set won’t be simply changed”.
Hunt has signalled a need to return to his native Queensland so, assuming that is nonetheless the case, the place makes essentially the most sense?
Dolphins
Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa began properly, however pale late in 2024. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
The youngest membership within the league appears essentially the most logical spot for a 34-year-old halfback.
Late within the season and in Tonga’s Pacific Championships opener, we received a reminder that Isaiya Katoa may be very a lot nonetheless solely 20 years outdated.
Younger halves profit from steering from a extra skilled and taking a few of the stress off Katoa could be a boon for the Dolphins.
Pairing Hunt with younger Katoa may assist each the membership and the younger playmaker take the following step with a well-balanced backbone of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Katoa, Hunt and Jeremy Marshall-King.
Kodi Nikorima, Jake Averillo and Sean O’Sullivan all performed within the halves this 12 months and stay on the books for 2025, however Nikorima is an in a position utility, Averillo can slot into centre, and O’Sullivan is ideal as a depth signing.
North Queensland Cowboys
Hunt (proper) and Tom Dearden (left) have frolicked collectively in State of Origin. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
The Cowboys have simply misplaced a equally skilled, rock-solid half in Chad Townsend and Hunt may slot into that position neatly.
He may take some stress off 23-year-old Tom Dearden, who carries an enormous load on each side of the ball and off the sphere as a younger captain.
A 12 months or two of Hunt might be simply the ticket for North Queensland as they handle the event of 19-year-old Jaxon Purdue.
The mark towards the Cowboys is distance. Townsville is simply as distant from south-east Queensland as Wollongong. If Hunt needs to return dwelling to his assist community, North Queensland might not be fairly what he is after.
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans have sufficient issues juggling the gamers they at present have with out including one other. (Getty Photographs: Izhar Khan)
The Titans merely do not have room of their backbone, until Hunt needs to turn out to be a hooker full-time.
Fellow 34-year-old half Kieran Foran has re-signed for an additional season, and Des Hasler remains to be determining how finest to juggle fullbacks AJ Brimson, Jayden Campbell and 20-year-old sensation Keano Kini.
Kini is getting nearer and nearer to locking up the primary full-time, and Campbell made a promising transfer into the halves late within the season. in the meantime, the injury-prone Brimson began 2024 at centre and was shuffled across the backbone.
There are query marks over the dummy-half position — Chris Randall, Sam Verrills and Erin Clark all had turns there — and Hunt has confirmed his means in quantity 9 on the most important stage, however does he actually need to make the change to doing the grunt work within the center in season quantity 16?
Brisbane Broncos
Ben Hunt left the Broncos in 2017. (AAP: Dan Peled)
This one is senseless, irrespective of how romantic it might appear.
Just like the Titans, Brisbane already has a 34-year-old halfback set to go round for another 12 months. Their wage cap can be stretched extremely skinny with Reece Walsh but to signal on and questions over their means to retain the likes of consultant outdoors backs Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs.
If five-eighth Ezra Mam was to overlook all or most of subsequent season, Hunt may come in useful, however should still be a bit too much like Adam Reynolds to actually work alongside him.
Hunt could be a luxurious behind Reynolds, who has struggled with accidents, and an over-qualified bench utility, however does he need to be a depth signing at his age?
Just like the Titans, there’s one thing of a niche at hooker, with no present star between Billy Walters, Cory Paix and Blake Mozer. Hunt may purchase them time till 20-year-old Mozer comes of age, however the math ain’t mathin’ so far as a return to maroon and gold.
