Ben Hunt’s future is in limbo after Dragons REFUSE to allow the NRL star to leave as new manager Shane Flanagan insists the veteran is part of his plans… and St George’s teammates beg Queenslander to stay
St George Illawarra have rejected Ben Hunt’s request for release and as the half-back prepares to meet incoming manager Shane Flanagan, the Dragons players are urging their team-mate to help them rebuild the struggling NRL club.
Queensland State of Origin representative Hunt signed a contract extension with the Dragons in October last year which tied him to the joint venture until the end of 2025.
But when the club sacked close ally Anthony Griffin as manager last month, speculation mounted that Hunt could push to follow him out the door, having previously pushed for a contract clause that would have tied his future to Griffin’s.
Widely regarded as one of the best half-backs in the game, Hunt had been linked with Canterbury and Gold Coast, while Canberra and Wests Tigers can also afford to play for him in 2024.
But Flanagan confirmed on Saturday that Hunt was part of his plans and that an exit would not be considered.
Ben Hunt asked to leave the Dragons but the club want to keep him
The veteran would not be impressed by the appointment of Shane Flanagan as coach
The Dragons told Hunt he wouldn’t be allowed to leave, but the playmaker is expected to meet with Flanagan and the club’s powerbrokers after Wednesday’s second Origin game.
“Ben is under contract until the end of the 2025 season and forms a big part of the Dragons’ current and future plans as the club prepares to achieve lasting success in the years to come,” the chief executive said. Dragons, Ryan Webb, in a statement.
“We are committed to working with Ben to understand and address his concerns as we all have the same goal of building a strong and successful club.”
Dragons center Zac Lomax admitted the release request caught him off guard and said he hoped Hunt would change his stance.
“We probably didn’t see it coming,” he told Fox Sport’s Sunday Night With Matty Johns.
“Benny is his own man and he’s going to make his own decisions, but we as players obviously would prefer ‘Dozer’ to be with us. He obviously makes our team a better team.
“It will be his decision and I’m sure he will take the right one.”
Hunt expected to sit down with Dragons exec after Origin II next week
Prop Blake Lawrie said he did not contact Hunt to discuss the situation.
“He has a big game to prepare for on Wednesday night,” he said.
‘Obviously Benny Hunt and “Flanno” [Flanagan] will speak in the future and whatever happens will happen.
“He’s our captain, he’s our leader. A bit selfish, I don’t want him to go anywhere.
Webb will be before the media in Wollongong on Monday morning to address the situation.
Zac Lomax said he hopes Hunt stays with the Dragons beyond this season
Concerns over Hunt’s commitment to the Dragons had already been raised this week when he told reporters at the State of Origin camp in Queensland that he was unsure how Flanagan’s appointment would affect his future.
Flanagan called Hunt before he was confirmed as head coach to express his desire to field the 33-year-old at halfback rather than hooker, where he reluctantly spent time earlier this season.
Entrenched in the bottom four of the NRL ladder, the Dragons are in danger of missing a fifth consecutive season of finals, but Hunt has been their shining light throughout the run of poor results.
He is the team’s only current Origin representative, finished third in the Dally M standings last season and is emerging as essential to their rebuilding under Flanagan.
