Ben Hunt could very well win the Dally M Medal this year as the NRL’s best-performed player but the Dragons should still not re-sign him.
That’s not to say they’d be better off without him, far from it. If not for Hunt, the team would be sitting at the bottom of the ladder rather than 11th spot with still a faint mathematical chance of making it into the finals.
But the recent talk that the club and Hunt could strike a deal to extend his contract beyond the next year should be alarming for the team’s long-suffering supporters who are already milling around ready to launch a mutiny against the club over their muddled recruitment and ongoing faith in besieged coach Anthony Griffin.
Hunt will turn 33 at the start of next season and already has plenty of miles on his legs following 285 NRL appearances over the course of 14 seasons, 14 Origins for Queensland and seven Tests for Australia.
The Dragons were roasted for their multimillion-dollar poaching of Hunt from Brisbane in 2018 but Hunt has for the most part kept up his end of the bargain by giving them quality service at halfback, particularly this season’s career-best form.
Hunt has an option in his contract that he could walk at the end of this year if he so desires and with the Dolphins still searching for a marquee face of the franchise, he would fit that bill.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
As a Maroons stalwart who was one of their best performers in this year’s series upset over NSW, he could help give the fledgling club on-field direction and off-field credibility in its formative years.
“Queensland is home to us and once footy is finished, we’re definitely going to end up back in Queensland but at the moment honestly I am really enjoying myself down here,” Hunt said on SEN on Tuesday night.
“It’s no secret that I love being coached by ‘Hook’ and I think our team is heading in the right direction. We’ve got some good young guys that will benefit with another year under their belt. I’m enjoying it and really playing good footy, I think.”
The Dragons are facing a situation reminiscent of Penrith a few years back when James Maloney was coming to the end of the second year of a lucrative three-season deal.
Maloney was 33 at the time and still delivering as a top-level playmaker but the Panthers already had a rising star in Nathan Cleary locked in at halfback and Jarome Luai had shown enough in his first 17 games across the 2018 and ‘19 that he was the future.
The Rabbitohs had targeted Luai as a prospect they could recruit when it looked like Cody Walker could head elsewhere but Penrith invested in Luai, telling Maloney he was free to leave if he found a better offer, which came in the form of a Super League swansong with Catalans.
St George Illawarra have Junior Amone established now as one half of their halves future with 30 games under his belt and a debut Test appearance for Tonga. He has extended his contract another year until the end of 2024 when he could have attracted lucrative offers elsewhere.
Jayden Sullivan is their Luai. He’s now attracting interest from other clubs headed by Canterbury, and his management is not being shy about ensuring the media has been kept up to date with possible approaches.
The 20-year-old halfback, who was handed a debut in 2020 and played another five games last year, has only been able to double his career tally to 12 this season due to a mix of injuries and being stuck in NSW Cup behind Hunt.
One option that could eventuate for the Dragons with Andrew McCullough potentially retiring at the end of this season would be to switch Hunt to hooker with Sullivan partnering Amone in the halves.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Hunt has done exceptionally well at hooker at Origin level and could very well be wearing Australia’s No.9 jersey at the World Cup ahead of specialist trio Damien Cook, Harry Grant and Api Koroisau.
Based on his three Origin starts at hooker for Queensland this year, he should be.
If the Dragons used him at hooker next year, he could be the steadying on-field influence the young duo would need and would also be able to return to the halves if Sullivan or Amone was injured or their form did not warrant selection.
Moses Mbye is another failsafe who can slot in at hooker or the halves when not needed as the bench utility.
Investing in the youth, rather than mediocrity, needs to be the joint-venture club’s goal.
Young fullback Tyrell Sloan has paid the price for the mixed messages coming out of the club. He is well down on confidence, as evidenced by his fumbling performance off the bench on Saturday night in the 24-18 derby loss to Cronulla at Shark Park.
After starting the season in three straight games, he was punted to NSW Cup after the team’s first defeat to the Sharks, filled in for one other game in Round 10 before getting a couple of runs off the bench the past two weeks.
Cody Ramsey is due to return from a knee injury for this Sunday’s trip to Canberra so Sloan is unlikely to see an NRL field again this year as the Dragons attempt the improbable feat of jagging a playoff berth.
After rising to eighth midway through the season, they have lost four of their last five and need to string together wins over the Raiders, Titans, Tigers and Broncos to have any chance of sneaking into eighth.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Despite the near certainty of again missing out on the playoffs, Griffin looks likely to at least be given the start of 2023 to prove he can turn the team’s fortunes in the final season of his three-year deal.
Unless Hunt walks early, the Dragons won’t have a lot of wriggle room with their salary cap after bringing Jack Bird, Jaydn Su’A, Moses Suli and Mbye to the club and throwing big dollars to Jack de Belin and Zac Lomax.
De Belin was somehow given an increased salary after his return from two years out of the game due to his sexual assault court case and the Dragons are paying the price for giving representative star wages to a player on the wrong side of 30 who is no longer in the top 20 candidates for a spot in the NSW Origin pack.
They have filled more than 20 of their top-30 slots for 2023 so they will probably be fielding a fairly similar line-up to the one which is on track for a second successive 11th-placed finish.
And unless there’s a change in direction from the top down, the Dragons will remain mired in mediocrity.
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Muzza
Roar Rookie
Agree hook to go flanagan head coach ramsey at 1 sloane on wing for moga amone and sullivan in halfs hunt at 9 mymbe on bench bird to lock other feagi brother to centre need all of them on the field for rest of season
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I don't know that they are a long way off. Against the Cowboys it was 16-8 with 15 to go. Another couple of wins this year and they are equal 8th with a better points differential.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
McInness was just a younger version of McCullough. Limited attacking threat out of dummy half but solid defender. No passing or kicking game
KenW
Roar Rookie
In overall results not really - although in 2018 with him at 9 they were a golden point field goal away from a prelim. McInnes effectively finished with the Dragons in 2020 though, it's a very different team as we're looking ahead to 2023. To my eyes the #9 is the most glaring weakness in the current team and a replacement there would have the biggest impact.
matth
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
matth
Roar Guru
Will Redcliffe really want him after pretty publicly backing O’Sullivan plus have the young potential star from Or Roth waiting in the wings. I would have preferred Hunt over Milford but I don’t think they can afford to have them both in the halves .
matth
Roar Guru
Often the promises of what could be seen sweeter than what you have. Hunt is leading the Dally M. Do you honestly think you would be better of this year and lest year with a pair of rookie halves?
matth
Roar Guru
When McInnes was in the 9 were the Dragons much better?
Nat
Roar Guru
You know, that Nikorima guy. He was never any good at D so I dropped it. :silly:
matth
Roar Guru
I’m getting old. Who is Kofi?
matth
Roar Guru
Just ask the Titans. Fogerty is no Hunt but they still let go a proven performer for untried youngsters and it’s sent them spiraling.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Agree on Mbye, the only number he should ever have on is 14, and hopefully moved on for a younger utility player asap. And if Hunt decides to move on instead of re-signing we are going to be in a massive hole with not to many quality halfbacks around, our kids should be off the pine for the rest of the season and see what they have to offer. Unfortunately in Griffin I don’t trust, we will probably sign Luke Brooks…..
KenW
Roar Rookie
I've heard from a few commentators that they don't see any easy fixes for the Dragons, which baffles me. The biggest weakness is clearly the number 9, a role that affects everything. Some will see this as optimistic but I think a good dummy half would make a world of difference to the Dragons team. There's an outline of a good team in there, lots of good young backs, and a forward pack that's not as old as the headlines would make out. McCullough did OK last year, he offered zero solo attacking threat but he provided good service from dummy half and led the defence admirably. This year he just can't keep up, he can't get back in defence quick enough, he often doesn't get to dummy half if the ball goes wide or a half-break occurs (I doubt there's any team where a dummy half touches the ball less). When he is there he's either tired or rushed because his passing game just isn't there any more, leaving halves jumping or stuttering to get the ball. I don't know what the answer is. I've said above I'm not particularly keen on Hunt wearing the jersey, they've just missed Verrills - Mbye certainly isn't the answer.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Common sense is Hunt to 9, Sullivan 7 and Sloan at 1. But Hook won't do it
Bek
Roar Rookie
100% agree with playing Amone and Sullivan in the halves with Hunt at Hooker for the rest of the year. We should be 18 months into this already if it wasn’t for Hunt. Sloan needs to regain his confidence in himself and he needs match time to do that, not sitting on the bench for 60+ mins. Dragons aren’t going anywhere with Hook as coach so let’s give these juniors all the opportunities. Loving the hook Hook statement. Let’s hope it is something that catch’s on.
Bek
Roar Rookie
100% agree with playing Amone and Sullivan in the halves and Hunt at hooker for the rest of the year. Loving hook Hook. Let’s hope it’s a catch phrase that takes off
Rebecca
Guest
Agree with this. Play Hunt at hooker and Amone and Sullivan in the halves then let Hunt go next year. Sloan needs to regain his confidence in himself and will only get that with game time not spending 60 + mins on the bench. Dragons aren’t going anywhere with Hook as coach so let’s play these juniors.
Rellum
Roar Guru
There are few quality haves getting around and Hunt is one of the best. The Dragons would be fools to not try and keep him but I am sure Wayne wouldn't mind a a half price Ben Hunt on his roster next year.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
Totally agree Andrew. It should have started 10 weeks, if not longer ago!!!! The dragons problem all season has started in the 9 jumper. McCullough is 2 years past his used by date, and the ineffectiveness/penetration out of dummy half all year has been atrocious. Move Hunt to 9, with MBye to give him a spell during the game at 14, and let’s see what Sullivan has got. It’s not going to be instantaneous, but surely it’s better than what we have dished up recently. Hunt has been playing well and carrying this team, but he is hardly an attacking genius setting up play. Most of his play has been solo efforts, not putting his outside players through gaps with passes or eyes up football. I think Hook hamstrings this team attacking ability with completions etc, they have the ability to put on points (south’s first half), but are too scared to, or the Dads army tuck it under their arm for another hit up. The last 10mins against the sharks were deplorable. Hunt was looking for the ball and we give it Molo. I think Hunt moving to 9 will improve us greatly. He can move us around the field to where our attack needs to be, and the young kids, if given a fair go, might be able to show a bit of flair with ball in hand. We won’t know because Hook is scared to give it a crack, but it can’t get much worse than it is now, it’s embarrassing ???? Just look at the last 10 mins against the sharks last wee
JGK
Roar Guru
Money talks at this stage of a career.