Ben Hunt detail that could see him land at Brisbane Broncos regardless of Ezra Mam's fate

The Brisbane Broncos could reportedly exploit an NRL loophole to bring Ben Hunt to the club, regardless of what happens in relation to Ezra Mam's car crash saga. Mam is set to leave rehab next week and join back up with his Broncos teammates for pre-season training, while he awaits the results of a secondary drug test after being involved in a traffic collision last month while allegedly unlicensed.

Queensland police have alleged the five-eighth failed an initial roadside drug test after a four-year-old girl suffered a broken hip in the crash in Brisbane but they have not yet laid charges. According to reports though, the NRL and Broncos are leaning towards giving Mam a second chance and not terminating his five-year, $4 million contract, if he is found guilty.

Mam is expected to cop a significant fine and be sidelined for the first two or three months of next season though and there were suggestions the Broncos could potentially apply for salary cap exemption to sign a for a like-for-like player. Mam is on a deal worth around $800,000 per season and Hunt's market value is around $900,000. The NRL will not allow the former Dragons captain to join another club on a cut-price deal.

According to The Courier Mail, the NRL would block any request from Brisbane for salary cap exemption if Mam is sidelined, and the Broncos currently only have around $500,000 of cap space. Even if Brisbane were to offload a fringe player they'd still likely fall short of Hunt's price tag but there's another way Brisbane could be able to afford the Maroons and Kangaroos star - regardless of what transpires with Mam.

It all centres around the November 1 date when the NRL's trade window open and player contracts officially begin for the year ahead at their clubs. Hunt's $900,000 market value is based off this date and for every month he remains a free agent, that value reportedly goes down by $75,000 - meaning if the Broncos are willing to wait until January to sign Hunt, they could get him for $750,000.

The veteran playmaker is currently in camp with the Kangaroos squad preparing for Sunday's Pacific Championship final against Tonga but considering NRL players have a mandatory 10-week break before they are due back for pre-season training, Hunt wouldn't be required to report back for club duty until January anyway. Hunt has already signalled his desire to return to Brisbane and Broncos coach Michael Maguire says he's the type of class player the club would love to have.

Dolphins loom as big threat to Broncos in battle for Ben Hunt

Hunt has put talks on his future on hold until after the Pacific Championships but has made no secret of his desire to finish his career in Queensland. However, the Dolphins have emerged as the biggest threat to Brisbane's hopes of landing Hunt, with reports they have around $1.3 million of cap space and could blow any Broncos offer out of the water.

RELATED:

• Walsh and Carrigan could be forced to move as Broncos overhaul begins

• Jarome Luai caught in fallout as NRL world blasts 'farcical' development

• Massive captaincy call made on Latrell Mitchell amid Souths dilemma

Incoming Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf - who will take the reins for Tonga in Sunday's Pacific Cup final against the Kangaroos - said this week he's "definitely keen" to chat to Hunt if the halfback is interested in a move there. Woolf says while he has not yet spoken to the former Dragons skipper, he knows the 34-year-old is the type of player who could improve the squad and play an important mentor role to young playmaker, Isaiya Katoa.

“If Ben is keen to have a chat then I am definitely keen to have a chat to him as well," Woolf told The Courier Mail. “I am really happy with the squad we have at the Dolphins. I know we have a squad there where we can improve on what we have built the last couple of years. I am happy if there are no changes there but Ben Hunt is a class player. So if he is keen to have a chat to us, we will certainly do that."