Advertisement

Broncos and Roosters cop blow as detail in NRL draw could deliver Ben Hunt to Bulldogs

The Bulldogs would seemingly be the best chance to win a premiership in 2025.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

OPINION

If Ben Hunt was waiting to see the NRL draw for 2025 in a bid to decide which team will give him the best chance to win a premiership, it looks like he'll definitely be going to the Bulldogs. The Broncos, Roosters and Bulldogs appear to be in a three-way race to snare the veteran halfback for 2025, who has met with officials from all three clubs.

Hunt is said to be looking at which club can give him the best chance to win a premiership, with the 34-year-old in the twilight of his career and likely to retire in the next few years. And Thursday's announcement of the NRL draw for 2025 might have helped him make his mind up.

While the Broncos and Roosters have been handed relatively hard draws, the Bulldogs have arguably the easiest run of all 17 teams. The aggregate finishing position in 2024 of the Bulldogs' opponents next season is 240 - the highest of any team in the NRL.

Michael Maguire, Ben Hunt and Trent Robinson.
The tricky draws for the Broncos and Roosters might cost them Ben Hunt. Image: Getty/AAP

In comparison, the aggregate of the Rabbitohs' upcoming opponents is 187 - giving them the hardest draw. On that scale, the Broncos have the fourth-hardest draw (211), while the Roosters have the fifth-hardest (213).

The Broncos will face six top-four opponents from 2024 next year, and 11 top-eight opponents. Michael Maguire's men will have three five-day turnarounds and travel a total of 18,681 kilometres throughout the season.

The Roosters have six top-four opponents on the horizon and 11 top-eight opponents, but no five-day turnarounds. They'll travel 10,268 kilometres. As for the Bulldogs, they've got seven top-four opponents and 10 top-eight opponents, with no five-day turnarounds and only 8361 km of travel.

Ben Hunt.
Ben Hunt in action for the Dragons in 2024. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

It means if Hunt is looking for the softest draw in 2025, he's probably heading to the Bulldogs. The 34-year-old reportedly requested a meeting with Phil Gould and Bulldogs officials this week in a sign he's seriously considering moving to Belmore.

The Bulldogs are said to have $1.6 million in salary cap space to spend, and appear unlikely to get Ryan Papenhuyzen. The star fullback is reportedly set to sign a one-year extension with the Storm that will keep him in Melbourne for 2026.

Maguire has stated he's keen to bring Hunt back to Brisbane, where he came agonisingly close to winning the premiership with the Broncos in 2015. Hunt and his wife Bridget are both originally from Queensland, but Hunt's preference is reportedly to stay in Sydney because his kids are settled in school and he doesn't want to uproot them.

RELATED:

Speaking this week, Broncos great Corey Parker said he doesn't think the Broncos will have the salary cap space to sign Hunt anyway, but former teammate Brent Tate is hopeful he'll make a homecoming. "I would like to see him back at the Broncos. I think he has unfinished business," Tate said on SEN radio.

"It's a club he has always loved. Even hearing his comments through the Pacific Championship there is still a real affinity he has got with the Broncos. Apparently his wife might want to stay down in Sydney, but I would love to see him back in Brisbane."

As for the Roosters, they've expressed an interest and could use Hunt at halfback or hooker. But with long-term injuries to Sam Walker and Brandon Smith and a number of high-profile players leaving at the end of 2024, it might be a struggle for Trent Robinson's side in 2025.

Bulldogs (easiest draw)

  • Aggregate 2024 finishing position of 2025 opponents: 240

  • Top-four opponents: 7

  • Top-eight opponents: 10

  • Five-day turnarounds: 0

  • Kilometres to travel: 8361

Dolphins (seventh-easiest draw)

  • Aggregate 2024 finishing position of 2025 opponents: 223

  • Top-four opponents: 5

  • Top-eight opponents: 11

  • Five-day turnarounds: 3

  • Kilometres to travel: 18,534

Brisbane Broncos (fourth-hardest draw in NRL)

  • Aggregate 2024 finishing position of 2025 opponents: 211

  • Top-four opponents: 6

  • Top-eight opponents: 11

  • Five-day turnarounds: 3

  • Kilometres to travel: 18,681

Sydney Roosters (fifth-hardest draw)

  • Aggregate 2024 finishing position of 2025 opponents: 213

  • Top-four opponents: 6

  • Top-eight opponents: 11

  • Five-day turnarounds: 0

  • Kilometres to travel: 10,268

with AAP