Broncos' 'off the salary cap' move to snare Ben Hunt for $200,000 less than NRL rivals

The Brisbane Broncos have won the race to sign Ben Hunt after reportedly offering him a job for after his football career ends. And crucially, it means they don't have to pay him as much to get the deal over the line with the NRL.

Hunt had been the hottest free agent on the NRL's open market after the Dragons agreed to release him from the final year of his $950,000 deal. The Broncos, Dolphins, Bulldogs and Roosters were in a four-horse race to snare the veteran halfback, although the Bulldogs and Roosters' interest reportedly cooled in recent days.

It was reported two weeks ago that Hunt's preference was to remain in Sydney so he didn't have to uproot his young family and change his kids' schools. However the Roosters and Bulldogs both had reservations about Hunt's price tag and the fact he'll be 35 by the time the 2025 season starts.

The NRL won't allow the Broncos to sign Hunt for significantly less than the $950,000 he was on at the Dragons, with estimates initially placing him in the $700,000 - $800,000 range. And according to News Corp, the Dolphins offered him $1.4 million - $800,000 for 2025 and $600,000 for 2026.

Brisbane Broncos offer Ben Hunt a job after football

But the Broncos reportedly played a trump card that could allow them to take advantage of a loophole in the salary cap system. The Broncos have reportedly snared Hunt for $1.2 million ($600,000 for two seasons), but have also offered the rep halfback a job for when his football career ends.

News Corp reported over the weekend: "Under NRL salary cap rules, in the final year of their career, a player can be paid off the salary cap as part of their transition into retirement. It is understood the role has to be documented and the payment has to be at market rates."

That would allow the Broncos to pay Hunt just $600,000 per year for the next two seasons and get around their salary cap constraints. With Reece Walsh recently signing a $5 million extension, and the likes of Payne Haas, Ezra Mam and Patrick Carrigan all on big money, it looked as though the Broncos wouldn't have the cash to snare Hunt.

Broncos great knew Ben Hunt was coming home

But club great Brent Tate floated the possibility of Hunt being offered a job at the Broncos last week. "I think it is a huge consideration. Planning post-football is really important," Tate said on SEN Radio. "I think if he ends up at a club and there are further opportunities to work at the club, that will be a huge consideration.

"I would like to see him back at the Broncos. I think he has unfinished business. 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."

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Hunt started his career at the Broncos and played eight seasons in Brisbane before his big-money move to the Dragons in 2018. "Brisbane will always have a soft spot for me," he said earlier this month. "I have been involved in the club since I was 12. They put a lot of work into me, and if I had the opportunity to go finish there it would be pretty special. But I've got to see if that can all work."