NRL legend Paul Gallen denounces Dragons skipper Ben Hunt’s shocked request to leave the embattled club: ‘I paid an awful lot of money… and never took them to a semi-final’
- Gallen declined Hunt’s request
- Says he has to repay the club’s faith
- Club has rejected his departure request
Controversial former NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen has weighed in on Ben Hunt’s request to leave his NRL club side St George Illawarra.
Gallen, who has played against Hunt and played under new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, strongly opposes the departure of the championship half.
“It surprised me like everyone else,” Gal told Nine’s NRL Sunday Footy Showwith the dragons declining Hunt’s request.
Ben Hunt is probably basing all his decisions at the moment on what happened at the club in the past.
“He said he was fed up with what has happened at the club in recent years and things were not going well, but he has been paid an awful lot of money to play at that club and has never taken them to a semi-final. -last.
“Now that’s not his fault, it’s a club game, a team sport, but he hasn’t attracted much talent there either.”
Dragons skipper Ben Hunt wants to leave the club – although the club has rejected the request
Former Origin skipper Paul Gallen, (pictured) who played under Dragon’s incoming coach Shane Flanagan, thinks Ben Hunt should give the coach a chance and stay
“He has to start thinking about what will happen in the future.
“He needs to consider that and at least meet Shane Flanagan and talk to Shane Flanagan about what’s going to happen and what he sees with the future at the club.
“I think making a decision (based) on what happened in the past, before Shane Flanagan has even been around, is a little rushed and a little bit rushed, and if I were the Dragons I wouldn’t have him let go.’
To be fair, Hunt has carried the hapless Dragons for the past three years and the weight of that work must weigh on him.
So Gal suggests he take a deep breath and just give Flanagan time.
Gallen played under Flanagan’s reign as he captained the Cronulla Sharks to Grand Final glory in 2016.
‘Shane Flanagan is known for being able to put together a selection. He took a team that won the wooden spoon to the premiership two years later,” Gallen reasoned.
It is clear that Hunt wants to move to Queensland to be with his extended family.
Hunt is dissatisfied with the way things are going at his club St George Illawarra and wants out
After that discovery, the rumor mill sped up in support of a move from Hunt to the Titans.
But many other clubs are enthusiastic about his services, including Canterbury.
Phil Gould, who runs football operations at the Bulldogs, has confirmed he has spoken to the Dragons star, but word is Canterbury won’t win him as his heart is in Queensland.
All speculation could be put to rest fairly quickly after next Wednesday’s Origin game where Hunt will play, as incoming St George Illawarra coach Flanagan is desperate to keep the star playmaker at the club and has said Hunt will not be allowed to to leave.
Flanagan had already assured Hunt that he would not try to play him as a hooker, the position he plays for Queensland and Australia.
Hunt had indicated in previous interviews that he was not keen on number nine in clubland.
