Roosters cop 'concerning' new blow as Ben Hunt rejection adds to pain of David Fifita backflip

The Roosters' aura and ability to attract the best talent looks to have lost a bit of sparkle after Ben Hunt became the latest star to snub the Tri Colours. The veteran halfback finally decided on his NRL future this week by agreeing to return to the Brisbane Broncos on a two-year deal worth a reported $600,000 per season, having played for the club between 2009 and 2017.

Hunt admits he was close to joining the Roosters but was ultimately drawn to the lure of an emotional return home to the club he previously played 187 games for. For Trent Robinson's Roosters, the Hunt snub leaves the Sydney club still without an answer to their shortage in the halves and at hooker in 2025, with halfback Sam Walker and Kiwi No.9 Brandon Smith both set to be sidelined for the first couple of months of the new season with ACL injuries.

The Roosters and their billionaire chairman Nick Politis are not used to being turned down and will more often than not acquire the players they target. But Hunt is not the only high-profile star to turn down the Roosters' advances this year, with Gold Coast enforcer David Fifita backflipping on a deal to join the Chooks and choosing to stay at the Titans.

Scott Sattler highlights 'concerning' situation for Roosters

Politis and the Roosters looked to have beaten off interest from Penrith and secured Fifita on a four-year deal worth around $3.3million, before he ultimately decided to extend with the Titans. Speaking on SEN radio on Wednesday afternoon, league great Scott Sattler said it would be "concerning" for the Roosters and their billionaire chairman to miss out on yet another top target and suggested the club was running out of time to sort out its roster for next season.

"He's gotta start moving some (pieces of the puzzle) soon Nick (Politis) because he would be quite annoyed," Sattler said. "(He's) A guy that's not used to not getting what he wants because he's been so successful in business through strategy, but he's missed out on David Fifita and now Ben Hunt, that's concerning."

Co-host Mat Rogers said he was also surprised the Roosters missed out on another top target but insisted the culture and sustained success of the club was still a massive lure for players. "One thing about the Roosters is their culture and what they're about," Rogers said. "They're the sort of team that a lot of players would want to be part of. It's a good club, they have success, obviously not every year but they're a premiership winning team. They're not going to have trouble attracting people it's just that they've missed out this go round."

Ben Hunt chooses to join Broncos over Roosters

The Roosters and the Broncos both reportedly enticed Hunt with a role after his career finished and the 34-year-old concedes he came close to agreeing a deal with the Roosters and staying in Sydney, where his family is settled. “It definitely wasn’t always (going to be the Broncos) and that’s what made the decision process so long,” Hunt said.

“Having a family down here in Sydney, we had to weigh up whether it was the right move to come back to Queensland or stay down here and finish off before we move back. There were some Sydney clubs (Roosters) involved which made the process so difficult and long.

“In my heart it always kept taking me back to Brisbane and the possibility of finishing off my career where it all started. Going back to my beginnings is what really got us over the line in the end. The love for the place and what the club gave me in the early part of my career.”

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Hunt is unfortunately best remembered for dropping a ball off the kick-off that ultimately cost Brisbane the 2015 grand final against the Cowboys. But the veteran is hopeful he can end his career on a high and win that elusive premiership with the Broncos. “That’s obviously the goal for every NRL player and I believe they’ve got the troops to do it and ‘Madge’ (Maguire) is going to be really good for the club," he added. “I’m hoping I can come up and contribute and win a competition.”