Broncos cop blow as powerhouse NRL club tipped to make 'two-year' play for Ben Hunt

The Brisbane Broncos' prospects of signing Ben Hunt have taken a hit after the Dolphins became the first club to officially express their interest in the former St George Illawarra captain and a powerhouse Sydney club emerged as another strong candidate. The Dragons sent shockwaves around the NRL on Wednesday after announcing they'd come to a mutual agreement with Hunt to terminate his $950,000 contract, which still had one season to run.

The 34-year-old halfback had been given permission by the Dragons to explore his options after making several comments in the media recently that made his position at the club untenable. Hunt spent seven seasons at the Dragons but has made no secret of his desire to finish his career in Queensland, where he and his wife are both from.

Hunt appeared to fall out of favour with Shane Flanagan last season and the Dragons coach took a thinly-veiled swipe at the halfback after the club wished him the best for the future. “No one player, person, staff member or coach is bigger than the club," Flanagan declared. “This decision allows us to get moving (in recruitment) for next year and beyond and I’m more than confident on what will unfold.

“Ben is an exceptional player and his skill set will not be easily replaced. However, we are committed to finding the right solutions and believe in the strength of our club moving forward." The Dragons bombshell means Hunt has become the NRL's most high-profile free agent and the Dolphins have been quick to declare their interest in the veteran No.7, despite already boasting a halves roster that includes Isaiya Katoa, Kodi Nikorima and Sean O’Sullivan.

“The Dolphins have always said that we are interested in good players that are available,” Dolphins CEO Terry Reader told The Courier Mail. “We only learned of the situation regarding Ben Hunt from the media this morning and have not had any contact with him or his management in relation to him coming to the Dolphins. However, we are sure if he is interested in speaking to us, we will hear from his management.”

The Broncos have also been linked with Hunt, but salary cap constraints would almost certainly prove prohibitive and any move would likely hinge on the fate of Ezra Mam. The Broncos five-eighth checked himself into rehab after being involved in a car crash that left another driver and two passengers injured. Police allege that he failed a roadside drug test and was driving without a license, and Mam is awaiting the result from a second drug test before any punishment is determined.

Scott Sattler dismisses Ben Hunt links to Broncos

League great Scott Sattler has poured further cold water on Brisbane's prospects of landing Hunt though and insists the Broncos should be targeting Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall, who comes off contract at the end of next season and will hit the open market on November 1. Trindall outshone his teammate and former Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes at Cronulla this season and Sattler says he'd been an ideal successor to veteran Broncos No.7 Adam Reynolds.

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"I know that (Broncos coach) Michael Maguire and Ben Hunt would have a great working relationship because they're both obsessed by the game but I can't see it happening," Sattler said on SEN radio. "With the Brisbane Broncos when you look at November 1, I'd be looking at young Trindall for 2026... He's 25, he's played over 70 first grade games now, can control a team when (former Dally M Medal winner) Nicho Hynes isn't there and probably proven that he's gone past Nicho."

Roosters emerge as top contender to land Ben Hunt

The other club that has emerged as a strong candidate to land Hunt is the cashed-up powerhouse Sydney Roosters, who have plenty of space in their salary cap after the recent departure of stars, Joey Manu, Luke Keary, Joseph Suaalii and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The Roosters have signed veteran halfback Chad Townsend for 2025 but will be without the injured Sam Walker for the first half of next season.

"I look at the Roosters who've got plenty of room in their salary cap," Sattler added. "They've lost Sam Walker for most of next year, Luke Keary has moved on, Joey Manu has moved on so he (Hunt) could be a really good two-year option at the Roosters." And Sattler insists Hunt could form a deadly halves partnership with his fellow Queenslander Walker, when the young playmaker does return from injury.

"You've got the direction and the control of Benny Hunt, who has the ability to play off the cuff as well... and then you've got this Alfie Langer-type style in Sam Walker who you don't want to coach too much so you've just got to have that steady hand (playing) beside him. When to pick up the tempo of the game, when to bring it back and just being able to talk to him on the run and a person like Ben Hunt would be perfect in that scenario when Walker comes back."