NRL 2024: Dolphins still in the race for Ben Hunt, Lachlan Ilias-Jackson Hastings player swap called off
Maroons and St George Illawarra star Ben Hunt is on the outer at the Dragons, and while the Titans and Cowboys have been priced out of his services there remains one Queensland club in the running.
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A defiant St George Illawarra has no plans to release Kangaroos halfback Ben Hunt from his 2025 Dragons deal.
“No chance in the world,” said a well-placed source close to St George Illawarra.
While the club granted Hunt early permission to negotiate with rival clubs from 2026, he remains fully contracted to the Dragons for next season.
With no clear halfback replacement, this masthead has been told St George Illawarra will expect Hunt at pre-season training in January and ready for another season in the Red V.
“Why the hell would the club let him go?” asked the source.
Hunt wants another two years after 2025 but Saints haven’t decided yet whether to offer an extension.
A Queensland State of Origin star, Hunt has been told by the Dragons that he is their halfback next season, even if he secures a new club for 2026.
There are fears that most clubs may not have the money in their salary cap for Hunt next season.
It appears Hunt’s main beef isn’t about next season, more about securing a two-year extension.
Given Hunt’s age, he will be 35 in March, it could be challenging for clubs to know what he would be worth in 2026, given it’s still 2024.
St George Illawarra and Hunt appear to be irritated over media comments and stories directed at each other from both parties. Despite an unhappy finish, Hunt enjoyed a strong 2024 season.
One rival NRL coach insists the Bulldogs will show interest in Hunt and while Canterbury is noncommittal, there is gentle, preliminary interest.
Hunt has suggested he would like to play his final seasons back home in Queensland but his options are limited.
Gold Coast, initially mooted as a possible suitor, has no interest in Hunt. The Titans were keen on Hunt last year but have now moved on due to a tight salary cap.
The Dolphins haven’t spoken with Hunt and while the club is fully invested in rising halfback Isaiya Katoa, they would consider signing the Dragons champion.
“We are aware of the media reports but haven’t heard from the club (St George Illawarra) or his management,” said Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader. “We’re always interested in good players if they’re interested in coming to our club but at the moment there’s nothing to report.”
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf added: “I read the media reports and I can sit here with my hand on my heart and say we’ve had no contact at all. At the moment it’s not something I’m interested in talking about.
“We’re always interested in talented players and Ben Hunt is a talented player, he’s playing for Australia at the moment. We’re always interested in having those conversations but as I said, that conversation hasn’t happened at the moment.”
Friends of Hunt are annoyed this latest blow up has come while he is in camp with Australia’s Kangaroos. Saints say he was given early permission to negotiate based on a notion Hunt was agitating through the media to leave.
St George Illawarra meanwhile have denied any interest in Adam Doueihi, Daniel Atkinson and Brayden Trindall.
KNIGHTS-SOUTHS PLAYER SWAP CALLED OFF
Plans for a proposed player swap between Lachie Ilias and Jackson Hastings have ended after talks in recent days.
It is understood the Knights and Souths Sydney were open to the planned switch but those conversations have since broken down.
Ilias reached out to incoming South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett on Wednesday who made it clear there was still future for the young half at the club should be wish to see out his contract.
Bennett had been to sign Hastings having spent time with him during a Great Britain tour in 2019.
Hastings has one year left one his $800,000 contract with the Knights where he was in and out of first grade this year.
Ilias had his own up and down year after being axed from the top grade. He then suffered a serious leg injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
DRAGONS GIVE HUNT PERMISSION TO NEGOTIATE WITH RIVAL CLUBS
Ben Hunt has been given permission to test the open market for 2026 just days after he publicly said the club ‘doesn’t seem overly keen to keep me’.
But that move could be fast-tracked with Hunt still keen on exiting the club before the start of next season.
Hunt’s comments to this masthead sparked the Dragons to allow their skipper to test the open market before the November 1 window opens.
St George Illawarra have indicated to Hunt that they are not in a position to offer him a new deal when his contract expires at the end of 2025.
It is understood Hunt’s camp were less than thrilled with the Dragons timing given he is in camp with the Australian team and the fact the November 1 window is just a little more than two weeks away.
Hunt has had multiple requests for a release knocked back stretching back 12 months. He would still be keen to leave the club and the Dragons may be open to it should they find a suitable option.
“At this stage I’ll be there (next year),” Hunt said to this masthead on Saturday.
“Nothing has changed. I had to get away and freshen up and not think about footy for a while. Unless something extreme happens I’ll probably be there.
“They don’t want to offer me anything so I’ll go to November 1 and see what happens.
“I haven’t shut the doors on anything. The Dragons said they were keen to extend me around April and then they said they’d wait until after Origin.
“Now they want to see how I’m playing next year. It’s all gone quiet and they don’t want to do anything. Doesn’t sound like they are overly keen to keep me.
“I definitely want to play beyond next year.”
The Dragons have discussed making a play for Tigers utility Adam Doueihi. Doueihi is off-contract on November 1 but the Dragons have expressed an interest in the experienced back. The Dragons would be prepared to sign Doueihi if he could get out immediately.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Dolphins still in the race for Ben Hunt, Lachlan Ilias-Jackson Hastings player swap called off
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