Brisbane Broncos dangle premiership carrot in front of Ben Hunt

Ben Hunt embarked on a Sunshine State hit-and-run mission over the weekend and coach Michael Maguire did not miss his chance to pitch his vision for premiership success at Red Hill.

(L-R) Ben Hunt and Michael Maguire.

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has dangled a premiership carrot to Ben Hunt after the Queensland Origin star officially met with Broncos bosses as the battle for his signature intensified.

Hunt embarked on a Sunshine State hit-and-run mission over the weekend with the former Dragons skipper holding preliminary talks with Broncos and Dolphins powerbrokers.

The Australian utility met with Maguire and Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy, while Hunt also stopped into Brisbane’s expansion rivals, with Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf keen to lure the 34-year-old to Redcliffe.

It is understood Hunt’s preference is to remain in Sydney for family reasons – putting the Roosters and Bulldogs in the box seat – but the Broncos and Dolphins are refusing to give up hope.

Brisbane have been linked with Hunt for several weeks and the speculation became reality over the weekend when Hunt came face-to-face with Maguire, who pitched his vision for premiership success at Red Hill.

(L-R) Ben Hunt and Michael Maguire.

Maguire believes there is a sense of unfinished business for Hunt, who made his Broncos first-grade debut in 2009 and was halfback in Brisbane’s heartbreaking 2015 grand-final loss to the Cowboys.

Now, almost a decade later, Hunt is desperate to win a maiden premiership ring in his twilight years and Maguire believes the Maroons maestro can help break Brisbane’s 19-year title drought in 2025.

“He would give us great depth,” Maguire said.

“Ben has played both positions at the highest levels at hooker and halfback, so it would give us versatility around what he can do.

“Ben sounds like a terrific fella and he’s a proven NRL player.

“It would be great to have a player back who started at this club at the age of 13.

“For him to come back and achieve something (a premiership win) that he set out as a kid at the Broncos, it would be an incredible story.”

Hunt is expected to finalise his future within the week.

While the Broncos have had a face-to-face meeting with the 334-game veteran, they have yet to table a formal offer as they gauge Hunt’s appetite for a Red Hill reunion in the face of strong interest from the Roosters and Dolphins and, potentially, the Bulldogs.

Hunt’s Dragons deal was worth $950,000 and the Dolphins are the only club with the salary-cap space to be able to offer a similar deal.

Hunt is giving genuine consideration to Redcliffe after dialogue with the club, but Dolphins CEO Terry Reader declined to comment.

The Roosters are rated the favourites to secure Hunt’s signature, but there is a view the Bondi club is no longer the genuine title contender they once were following an off-season exodus.

Corey Parker (left) and Ben Hunt played 149 games together at the Broncos. Picture: Dave Hunt

Champion playmaker Luke Keary and enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have headed abroad, while Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have defected to rugby union.

Of the potential suitors, the Broncos appear to have the strongest roster capable of challenging for the premiership next season.

Former Broncos captain Corey Parker played in the 2015 grand final with Hunt and dismissed concerns the playmaker, who turns 35 in March, would not be the right fit for skipper Adam Reynolds in the halves.

“I actually think he could work well with ‘Reyno’,” Parker said.

“If Ezra (Mam) is out for a while, Hunt could play a six role.

“Ben has played halfback for a long time but I don’t think he is a natural organiser.

“His best asset is his running game so Hunt could suit playing five-eighth or you can put him at nine (hooker) or 14 (utility role off interchange).

“Brisbane’s premiership window is open. If he genuinely wants to win a comp, he should go to Brisbane.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos dangle premiership carrot in front of Ben Hunt