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St George Illawarra have landed a massive coup in the rebuilding of the club, confirming Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt will join them for the 2018 NRL season on a five-year contract.
The Dragons announced the long-term deal – which is rumoured to be worth around $1 million a year – on Monday, less than six weeks out from the start of the new NRL season.
“We were looking for a really competent, world-class halfback,” Dragons head of recruitment Ian Millward said.
“It was about signing someone who has been a regular halfback and who has played at the highest level and is competent at getting a team around.”
Hunt has played 166 games for Brisbane since his debut in 2009, and enjoyed a breakout year at the Broncos in 2015 when he helped take them to a grand final.
Since then, his partnership with Anthony Milford has been one of the best in the competition, with Hunt alone setting up 52 tries and 50 linebreaks.
“We were looking for a player who has already played Test football,” Milward said.
“He is viewed by his state Queensland and Kevvie Walters his coach as a long-term replacement for some of their superstars who are getting to the back-end of their careers.”
Dragons fans will have to wait another year before Hunt’s arrival though, with the 26-year-old to remain in Brisbane for the final year of his deal.
It means the Dragons will still likely have to call upon Josh McCrone in the No.7 jersey for this season to partner Gareth Widdop, with up-and-coming halfback Drew Hutchinson ruled out for the year with a knee injury.
Meanwhile Hunt will have to wait until round 24 to face his future club, with the Broncos and Dragons meeting just once this year in August, at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
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