Ben Hunt's return to Broncos confirmed as Adam Reynolds makes call on position switch

Adam Reynolds says Ben Hunt will likely partner him in the halves next year after the former Dragons captain signed a two-year deal to join the Broncos. On Tuesday, Hunt agreed to a deal worth around $600,000-a-season to return home to Red Hill in 2025. And Reynolds believes the new recruit will pull on the No.6 jersey next year, a number famously worn by Brisbane greats Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis.

The news comes after Michael Maguire ramped up his efforts to bring the halfback home in recent days and the Brisbane coach has finally got his man. As well as a two-year deal, the Broncos offered the representative footballer post-football employment to convince him to snub a more lucrative offer from the Dolphins to re-join Brisbane.

With Hunt heading back to Brisbane, many would believe he would replace Billy Walters at hooker or be played as a utility off the bench. However, Maguire is understood to be happy with Walters and young No.9 Blake Mozer and with regular five-eighth Ezra Mam set to miss at least the start of the year through suspension, it is expected that he will slot into the halves alongside Reynolds. The Broncos skipper says Hunt won't be replacing him at halfback, meaning he will almost certainly play in the No.6.

"Ben could do a lot," Reynolds said. "He's a great player, with what he brings to the football field. He's a leader off the football field as well, which is super important in any organisation. He's an X factor and amongst some of the game's greats, and obviously it would be a big benefit to get them here to the club.

"If you've got competition in the squad, it's going to make you a better player and Ben would add to that if he did arrive here. He's a competitor, brings a lot of experience and no doubt it would be a great addition to the squad."

Hunt's signing will also mean that Maguire will field a roster that will be expected to seriously compete for a premiership with Reece Walsh, Payne Hass, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs and Selwynn Cobbo all set to be on the receiving end of service from top playmakers Reynolds and Hunt.

One of Ben Hunt or Adam Reynolds would play five-eighth

Reynolds and Hunt are both genuine No.7s and therefore at least one would have to give way, but Reynolds doesn't expect that man to be him. However, the Broncos skipper says they will work out a way to work together and play to each other's strengths.

"I'm sure we'd sit down and work out a game plan," Reynolds said. "We've got some smart assistant coaches here who are working in the background, figuring all that out now."

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Broncos to lose Selwyn Cobbo following Ben Hunt coup?

Last week Broncos coach Maguire vowed to fight to do all he could to keep Cobbo at Red Hill, but realistically he may be unable to fit him into the salary cap. The Broncos rewarded superstar fullback Reece Walsh with a staggering $4.4 million extension earlier this month and with the club reportedly bringing in the veteran halfback on a big money deal, it becomes incredibly tough to squeeze Cobbo into their cap.

Walsh joined Haas, who is on $1.1m-a-season for the next two years, in the million-dollar club, while Pat Carrigan ($800k) and Ezra Mam ($750k) also command significant salary cap space and both are signed until 2028. Cobbo is currently on around $650,000 a season and his new deals would be expected to be closer to the $1 million mark. And three rival NRL clubs are reportedly keen to capitalise on the situation, tabling offers for Cobbo.

However, it is understood Cobbo's preference is to stay at the Broncos and Maguire believes he can still hold onto the Queensland Origin representative even with Hunt at the club. Asked if the club can afford both Cobbo and Hunt, Maguire said: “I believe we can, yes. A player of Ben Hunt’s calibre is hard to get and having his name in your top squad, it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? We have presented to Ben and shown him the club and he would be immense for our environment. His leadership and his quality as a player are great assets.

“I’m sure he is talking to his family and working out what it is he wants, but he also has a great opportunity to come back to a Broncos club that he loves and do something special and help the club create history again. That’s what we are all chasing."

with AAP