‘Hostage situation’: Dragons crisis to get ‘really messy’

Ben Hunt has stunned the NRL with his public comments about his future, and it has now been predicted things could turn “really nasty”.

Captain Ben Hunt. Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images.

Ben Hunt has declared he will be staying with the Dragons next year — but that is just the start of the club’s crisis.

The star playmaker this week admitted he has some regrets about signing his long-term contract with the club through to the end of the 2025 season with rumours swirling he could potentially be offered a deal to move to the Gold Coast as early as next year.

Hunt on Thursday also admitted he had offered to hand back his captaincy of the club — but remains in the role.

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The 33-year-old has been at St George Illawarra since 2018 and signed with the club in 2022.

But the veteran halfback dropped a bomb on the club back in June when his manager asked for an immediate release, with Hunt keen to return to Queensland after he felt Dragons officials made the wrong call to sack coach Anthony Griffin.

Hunt’s plea was knocked back and incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was able to convince Hunt to stay.

However, Hunt’s latest public comments will not fill Dragons fans with hope.

Hunt had another stellar season in attack. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

“I’ve got my head around it for sure. I wouldn’t say I’m being held hostage. That’s a bit harsh. I have had to accept it in a way. I am going to be there,” he told News Corp.

“I can understand (frustration) from a fan point of view. I can assure the fans that I will always put my best foot forward. I’ll come back to pre-season in good shape and I’ll train hard.”

He said “in a way” he does regret signing the extension.

Rugby league commentator Andrew Voss on Friday said Dragons officials must take the captaincy away from Hunt to protect the player and the club

Voss joked Hunt’s situation meets the criteria of the term “hostage”.

“A person seized or held for the security for the fulfilment of a condition. E.g. a halfback was released but only after a money amount of $200,000 was paid to the guerillas. That’s the definition of hostage,” he said.

Voss went on to say: “We’ve had some fun with the hostage situation. But again this is the Dragons club. They are second last on the ladder. They’ve got Shane Flanagan coming on board, it’s a massive assignment. He’s got a few dollars to spend, but not a lot.

“What if this gets to one (win) and five (losses) next year. This could get really nasty. Not nasty. I take that back. But it could get really messy and a tough one. It will just build up.”

Ben Hunt will be at the Dragons next year, but there are no guarantees he’ll see out the remainder of his contract. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images

Hunt has refused to commit to the final year of his contract.

“I’ll be at the Dragons. I’ve had a few conversations with ‘Flanno’ so that’s where I’ll be,” he said after being named in the PM’s XIII squad that will travel to Papua New Guinea next week.

“I had a little catch up with him (last week) and I’m actually catching up with him again in the next few days. I’m not really sure what he wants to catch up for, but I’m looking forward to it just to see what he’s got to say.

“We’ve got a really good relationship and we have done for a long time now. I think he’ll do a good job for the club.”

While Hunt is committed to staying at the club next year, there are no guarantees he’ll be there in 2025.

“I wouldn’t say (my views from June) have improved drastically,” he said.

“I’ve put it all behind me and accepted that I’m going to be there. If I really think about it, (my stance) hasn’t changed a lot. That’s just where I’m going to be next year.

“At this stage I’m just going with it and just playing it as it is. I’m contracted for two years so that’s what it is. I’ll go with that.”

Originally published as ‘Hostage situation’: Dragons crisis to get ‘really messy’