Ben Hunt contract bombshell stuns NRL fans as Dragons block move

The Brisbane Broncos have been dealt a massive blow after St George Illawarra sensationally announced on Monday morning that they were blocking a request from Ben Hunt to leave the NRL club. The Dragons held an emergency meeting on Monday morning where the board decided to deny Hunt the opportunity to return home to Queensland and link up with premiership contenders, Brisbane.

Hunt is now set to remain at St George Illawarra for the remainder of his contract after the club turned down his request to leave during formal talks between the two parties. In the wake of the Dragons' coaching upheaval, with Shane Flanagan replacing the sacked Anthony Griffiin for the 2024 season, Hunt sought a move back to Queensland, with reports over the weekend claiming he was all but certain of being granted a release by the Dragons on Monday, paving the way towards a mid-season switch to the Broncos.

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The Dragons had already formally denied a release request from Hunt earlier in the month and met with him again to discuss the matter in Wollongong on Monday morning. There, they confirmed Hunt would not be released from the final two-and-a-half years of the contract he signed last October.

After formal talks with Hunt and his management concluded on Monday morning, the Dragons were confident of mending the relationship with their captain. They will name him to play against local rivals Cronulla this weekend as they look to finally move on from a season of off-field unrest.

"I appreciated the open and honest discussion and will continue to work alongside the club and now focus on our game against the Sharks this Thursday night," Hunt said of the latest contract discussions. Fox Sports reported that Hunt was not spotted training with the rest of the squad on Monday morning.

NRL world divided over shock Ben Hunt twist

The Dragons are expected to release a statement on the matter later in the day. However, the latest twist to the season's biggest contract saga has certainly left fans divided, with many arguing his Dragons future is untenable and others applauding the club's tough stance.

Broncos miss out on acquiring services of Ben Hunt

Hunt had been linked with an immediate switch to the second-placed Broncos, who first scouted him as a pre-teen and turned him into an established NRL player across 187 first-grade games. Contracted with the Dragons through 2025, Hunt could not see a path to premiership success at the joint venture and was poised to provide the Broncos with an immediate sugar hit at hooker on the run to the finals.

St George Illawarra believe they will retain Hunt for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the new contract he signed last October. "The club listened to Ben's concerns and is committed to working with him throughout the remainder of his playing contract," said Dragons CEO Ryan Webb.

"Both Ben and the club share a common goal of winning football games and building a successful football club." Retaining Hunt is a significant boost for a Dragons side aiming to start afresh under premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan, who takes over in 2024.

The Red V are in the midst of their longest finals drought as a joint venture, having last played in the post-season in 2018, and are languishing in last spot on the ladder through 17 rounds this year. They have been dogged by off-field scandals in recent seasons - most notably the 2021 Covid-19 barbecue breach - but Hunt has been a shining light through the lean years.

He is their only current Origin representative and finished third in the Dally M Medal rankings last year. With Hunt seemingly off the table this year, the Broncos will back Billy Walters and Cory Paix to marshal the middle of the park from dummy-half as they hunt their first premiership since 2006.

with AAP

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