In early 2017 when Ben Hunt’s first contract with the Dragons was announced, a lot of people were stunned at not only the rumored amount, but by how the Dragons were able to lure away a key player from the Broncos.
Since the Broncos were established, they have been a behemoth of rugby league that seemed to exist in a league all their own.
The Broncos won six premierships in their first eighteen years. Before 2020, they had missed the finals only twice since 1992. They are the only NRL team publicly traded on the ASX, and they are majority owned by Newscorp, one of the largest companies in the world.
For younger fans, or fans who may be a little hazy on the history, it is hard to overstate just how domineering the Broncos were for the first thirty years of their existence.
This presence in the rugby league landscape gave them incredible benefits, and their huge nurseries gave them access to talent the cramped Sydney clubs could only dream of.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
They could grow, develop, and, most importantly, retain talent whenever they wanted. You didn’t sign a Broncos player; the club released them and let you take them. If they wanted someone, they got them.
Cut to early 2017. The Broncos lost a grand final by the closest margin you can a bit over a year ago, and in 2016 they again had a respectable semi-final finish.
A bevy of talent is on the horizon, with rumblings of generational players coming up through the ranks with names that will soon be all too familiar: Payne Haas and David Fifita.
The Broncos’ well-oiled machine is working as intended, with Wayne Bennett back at the helm, when all of a sudden, their soft-spoken and diminutive number 7 signs a ludicrous offer with the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Make no mistake: although Ben Hunt has proven in the past six years that he is more than worth that contract, at the time, it was crazy money for a player who most believed was second fiddle to Anthony Milford in the Broncos then-recent successes.
Hunt has had a turbulent time in the Red V. He’s made the finals even less than the Broncos have since his change of colours. But there is a case to be made that this was the end of three decades of Broncos dominance as the dynasty came to a screeching halt.
In the first year of the Broncos without Hunt, the Dragons played the Queenslanders in the first game of the finals. It could not have been scripted better.
Unfortunately for the more-than-a-little cocky hosts, the Dragons blow them out of the park 48-18 in front of their own home crowd.
In 2019, the Broncos scraped into the finals and got absolutely incinerated by the Parramatta Eels 58-0. The following year they start the year with two wins and then win just one more game to finish last and claim their first ever wooden spoon.
New coach Anthony Seibold, who had been hailed as a prodigy two years ago, is sacked midway through the season. The club is at its lowest point ever, and the rest of the NRL pounce. A lot of talent departs the Broncos.
Some, like Reece Walsh, return in the future. Others, like David Fifita, Jaydn Su’a, Anthony Milford, Josh McGuire, James Roberts, Andrew McCollough, and Kodi Nikorima, never do.
Now, not all of those players were huge losses for the Broncos, but a lot of them did have deals on the table from the club that they rejected for other opportunities.
The Broncos’ downfall was sudden, nasty, and very unexpected. It soured Bennett’s relationship with senior management probably for good, which is sad considering his history with that club.
It delayed Seibold’s career for at least a couple of years. But, perhaps most importantly, it let everyone know that no club is infallible in this game, and everyone is a season or two away from complete and utter disaster.
The Broncos have rebuilt equally quickly, but they no longer have that similar aura, and winning a wooden spoon before the Wests Tigers has got to sting a little.
With the appearance of cross-town rivals and more money on the cap than ever before, it seems hard to see the Broncos re-establishing themselves to the point where they were in the past.
Who knows if keeping Ben Hunt would have papered over these cracks for long, but in this humble author’s opinion, his departure certainly sped things up and changed the Broncos’ position forever.
John Collison
Roar Pro
It has nothing to do with losing him as a player and is more about what it meant for the Broncos as an organisation as that was the catalyst for their downfall.
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
We can’t afford all of them. We’d love Hunt though. He’d slot in just like Cronk did.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
The chooks will keep Walker, sign Hunt and probably Nicho Hynes and Matt Burton too while they have the cheque book out.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
This is what I hate of punditry. Hunt gets blamed for the Dragons lack of success. Since he's arrived he's been top 10 in the Dally M twice, put in plenty of MOM performances at NRL and even one at Origin level. Perhaps the issue is the 12 players around him on the field? When a good half is leading around a rubbish team all the focus goes to the half, not the bog average team they are thrown in.
peeeko
Roar Guru
"Who knows if keeping Ben Hunt would have papered over these cracks for long, but in this humble author’s opinion, his departure certainly sped things up and changed the Broncos’ position forever" - he is a very good player but not the influence you seem to bestow on him
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Both Bird and De Belin are both playing on memories of SOO a few years ago . Vaughan gone , and the slowest prop on the planet going shortly the rest trying to play Griffin out of his job and succeeding and the board looking for the next coach without even knowing who the current one is doesn't say a lot .
John Allan
Roar Rookie
Whenever I hear the phrase “giving 110%” it amuses me only because it’s mathematically impossible however one player who always gives his all is Ben Hunt. The 2015 GF must have been a heavy psychological obstacle to overcome but his weekly efforts with the Dragons & SOO performances are testimony to his attitude & character. Also his non attendance at the infamous BBQ is another reason he Is held in high esteem.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Hunt's departure also coincided with Darius Boyd's decline as well as Jack Bird who had an unhappy run with injuries, both of which taking up a fair chunk of the cap. Depsite this, 2018 was full of sliding doors moments for the club - the Broncos managed wins over most of the top 8, but dropped matches against easy opposition to miss out on the top 4 by 2 points. If they'd had a second chance after their poor finals exit against the Dragons the last few years could have been very different
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
The Chooks will gladly swap him for young Walker and pay the balance.
John Collison
Roar Pro
He was dropped by Bennett after signing the Dragons deal
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Your comments policy stole my comment… third time in a week :thumbdown:
Albo
Roar Rookie
Wasn't Hunt dropped by Bennett for Kodi Nikorima and whilst playing in the QLD Cup , didn't he decide to take the Dragons offer ? Not sure it was all about choosing the money ? He was looking for an NRL spot . His form has been great since he turned up at Kogarah, but he really hasn't been able to carry the rest of them .
Rellum
Roar Guru
Ben Hunt in the current Broncs team would have has better off I think. But he chose the money so I am happy with A Rey. The Broncs are improving because of Dave D. The club has improved massively off the field. The guys that say Bennett leave are mostly gone outside of some like Karl Morris and Lockyer. Kevie is finding his feet and the club is getting back to to what is was when Porky and Ribot were running the club
Geo
Roar Rookie
Ben Hunt has tried his guts out in a team that is quite poor. I can think of plenty of overpaid players and he isn’t one of them. I’m a Raiders and NSW Blues supporter too. He would make a humongous difference to the Raiders, that’s for sure.