Ben Hunt saga concludes: what's next for the veteran half-back? (Creating Generative Value Assignment 2)

In what feels like an eternity of long-winded twists and turns in the Dragons captain’s contract, Fox Sports has reported that Ben Hunt has been released and is free to look for a new club in 2025. The highly regarded half-back has been the Dragons’ key playmaker since joining in 2018 from the Brisbane Broncos, Hunt often found himself at the forefront of criticism in the wake of the Dragon’s poor performances. Having only made the finals once since his arrival, Hunt’s million-dollar contract was often harshly scrutinised. While the 2024 season showed significant promise for the Dragons, a late-season implosion ended the club’s hopes of making finals for the first time since 2018. Bearing the brunt of the blame for a season riddled with dysfunctional team chemistry and the inability to deliver a consistent 80-minute performance, Hunt found himself dissatisfied with the direction of the teams future.

With quality half-backs few and far between, the race for Ben Hunt’s signature will likely kickstart a bidding war between rival clubs in the upcoming weeks. Potential landing points for the departing Dragon could include The Dolphins, Knights and Raiders, all lacking depth in their halves pairings. Fans of the Red V will be relieved to finally be done with the constant uncertainty surrounding their captain’s place in the team and breathe a sigh of relief that a new era has begun for the club.    

With Ezra Mam’s uncertain future at the Broncos in recent weeks, could the answer to both team’s issues be a new Broncos half for the Dragons and the return of an old face for Brisbane? While this exchange would be likely beneficial for both teams short term, the Brisbane Broncos would likely not entertain suggestions of a trade for their young superstar five-eighth. With Ben Hunt nearing retirement and the Bronco’s current half-back Adam Reynolds not too far off, Brisbane will likely aim to avoid housing possibly the oldest halves pairing Rugby League has ever seen. Following the shocking news the Sydney Roosters are moving on Terrel May, Ben Hunt’s future could be in the Eastern Suburbs glamour club, now armed with an even larger war chest to take to the player market. With long-term injuries to the key spine positions of half-back and hooker, positions Hunt has played for the Dragons and Queensland respectively, the veteran half could be the answer to the Rooster’s injury crisis.

With the half-back position now likely falling on the shoulders of Kyle Flanagan, many fans may be concerned for the club’s prospects. Flanagan has yet to prove himself as a first-grade half-back, with unsuccessful stints in the position at the Cronulla Sharks, Sydney Roosters and Canterbury Bulldogs. With news of Clint Gutherson’s falling out with the Parramatta Eels, a positional switch to the halves could be in the cards for the star fullback. After a disappointing season at Parramatta mired with injury, Gutherson was floated as a potential halves option. Critics believe he has lost his speed due to sustained leg and knee injuries and is no longer capable of the explosive play he was once known for.

Hunt’s departure marks the end of an era for St George and draws similarities to four-time premiership winner Jerome Luai’s defection to the West Tigers in 2025. While not achieving the success Luai saw at the Penrith Panthers, filling the void left behind by these superstars is high on both clubs to-do lists.