NRL to make tough call on $1 million Ben Hunt dilemma in major setback for return home

The NRL could be forced to weigh-up whether Ben Hunt can accept a significantly lower contract than his reported $950,000 deal he walked away from at the Dragons to sign with another club. Hunt and the Dragons ended years of back-and-forth with the captain released immediately from the final year of his contract to sign with another club.

Fans were left stunned having discovered Hunt will be walking away from the final year of his contract worth close to $1 million. Hunt and wife Bridget are both originally from Queensland and still have family there, and they've made no secret of their desire to return one day.

The halfback has been linked with a number of Queensland clubs for potentially the final two to three years of his career. While Hunt's preferred journey north appears clear it appears the 34-year-old's market worth will be the biggest hurdle for Queensland teams to sign him.

Hunt walked way from close to $950,000 to depart the Dragons. And the NRL will reportedly wait to see the offer from rival clubs to find out whether the Queensland and Kangaroos player is adhering to his market value.

To make sure the salary cap and market isn't distorted, the NRL makes sure players are signed for what they deem is their value. While he is 34 years old, Hunt is still a State of Origin and Australian representative.

The NRL will also consider how many clubs move to sign the halfback. Taking a deal on fewer than half his most recent contract could prompt the NRL to step in. If multiple clubs come in at around $600,000-$700,000 then the would consider this his market price.

But if one club offers Hunt a lot less and he looks to sign, it could prompt the NRL to re-evaluate his deal. This could make it difficult for Hunt to sign for teams such as the Broncos and the Cowboys who appear to have less room in their salary cap. One team that has emerged overnight as a huge candidate to sign Hunt is the Roosters.

Roosters emerge as Ben Hunt option

The NRL world was rocked on Thursday with reports the Roosters are considering releasing Terrell May to allow him to join a rival club. The bench forward was outstanding for the Roosters in 2024 and a potential release has prompted plenty of speculation over why he could be out the door.

However, many feel the Roosters could be keen to make a play for Hunt. Sam Walker is the Roosters halfback and was in sensational form this year. However, the 22-year-old ruptured his ACL towards the end of the NRL campaign and will miss a large portion of the 2025 season.

The Roosters could look to use money they have freed up from the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary and May to make a play for Hunt. While it appears Hunt may want to finish his career in Queensland, the Roosters may be able to offer him one of the more lucrative contracts of the interested clubs.

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He also wouldn't have to move his family far if the Roosters do come knocking. While the Roosters have emerged as a candidate, speculation still continues of Hunt's desire to return to Queensland with his family.

Ben Hunt's recent purchase suggests Queensland return

On Wednesday, NRL great Scott Sattler pointed out that Hunt and his wife recently purchased a property in Bangalow in the Byron Bay Hinterland, right near the NSW-Queensland border. Sattler believes it shows Hunt and his family want to eventually move there full-time, which would put one of the Queensland clubs as the favourites to sign him.

"He's just bought a beautiful farm in Bangalow," Sattler said on SEN Radio. "I'm not saying he wants to move there straight away and live there, but obviously that's where he wants to end up. If you can get closer to where you're eventually going to end up, it just minimises all that confusion around transitioning post-career (into retirement)."