Paul Gallen hits out as $150k Ben Hunt detail emerges in Dragons saga
The Dragons captain has been given a reality check by the former NRL star.
Paul Gallen has dropped a truth bomb on Ben Hunt and the Dragons, after the St George Illawarra captain made it clear over the weekend that he wants an immediate release from the NRL club. On Sunday, Hunt requested an immediate release from the final two-and-a-half years of his lucrative contract, leaving the Dragons and their incoming coach Shane Flanagan with a massive dilemma.
Flanagan doesn't start his role until the 2024 NRL season but he and club bosses at the Dragons have made it clear they are unwilling to let the superstar half go. It's understood Hunt - currently in camp with the Maroons ahead of State of Origin Game II on Wednesday night - is that determined to leave he's willing to dip significantly into his own pocket to engineer a move.
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“I’m told that Ben Hunt is so desperate to get out of St George Illawarra that they might even offer a financial settlement to make it more attractive for the Dragons,” Phil Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast Radio. “So they not only get rid of his million-dollar a year contract, but they might throw in some cash, something like $150,000 to get an immediate release.
“That’s the shock of this story, that he wants out straight away and it’s not the end of the year. Clubs are obviously monitoring it very closely and it’s not secret Phil Gould and Cameron Ciraldo have been banging on his door and feel he is the final piece to their puzzle to build a premiership winning side at Belmore.”
Paul Gallen's truth bomb for Ben Hunt over Dragons saga
It's understood the Dragons would only allow Hunt to leave on personal grounds. Even then, Gallen warns it would only be "if they can find a suitable replacement" which he insists "won't happen".
Commenting on Wide World of Sports, the Cronulla Sharks great said it would be "pretty extreme" if reports were true that Hunt was willing to part with his own money to seal a move away. Gallen said while he understands that Hunt and sacked former Dragons coach Anthony Griffin were close, the halfback should be looking forward to a new start under a premiership-winning coach, rather than looking for the exit door.
"I know players are released from contracts all the time these days, but it's a legally binding document and the club has a right to hold Hunt to it," Gallen said. "There's reports doing the rounds that he's so unhappy with the club he'd be willing to pay $150,000 out of his own pocket to leave immediately if a deal could be done elsewhere. That's pretty extreme if it's true."
Dragons determined to convince Ben Hunt to stay
Dragons CEO Ryan Webb and Flanagan are both digging their heels in and remain hopeful they can convince Hunt to want to stay with the Red V. With the half not likely to rejoin his Dragons teammates until the Thursday after Origin, a cloud over his future will surely still be hanging over Hunt's head for Friday night's clash against the Warriors at WIN Stadium.
"I won't get the chance to see him, he will be at Origin until late Thursday, so no it won't be resolved in that sense," Webb said on Monday. "But I think there's still a strong enough relationship there and my very brief chat with him, he was going to be OK to come and play Friday if need be."
Should he back up from Origin, it will be interesting to see what sort of reception Hunt receives from the Wollongong faithful. Webb admitted he was surprised by the release request, which came hot on the heels of the club's signing of Flanagan as coach from next season on a three-year deal.
Flanagan has made no secret of his desire to build the team around Hunt, saying he sees the 33-year-old as the club's skipper and first-choice No.7.
It is believed part of Hunt's motivation for wanting out of the club is his desire to challenge for an elusive premiership before he retires, something Webb hopes to convince him is possible at the Dragons by the end of his contract in 2025.
When asked if there was a scenario in which the Dragons would grant a release for Hunt, the club's CEO said "not at this stage". Webb did concede that there were other issues apart from the Dragons' success on the park, that Hunt and the club would need to discuss in the coming days or weeks.
with AAP
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