NRL 2023: Manager of Ben Hunt tells him to not be weighed down by Anthony Griffin’s sacking
With Anthony Griffin gone, attention now reverts to Ben Hunt’s future. And his manager has a message for him.
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The agent of Ben Hunt has told the Dragons star halfback to keep “his head down, arse up” and not be “weighed down” by Anthony Griffin’s demise.
Hunt, a staunch and public supporter of Griffin, has previously claimed he would consider leaving the club should the Dragons coach be sacked.
With Griffin now gone, attention now reverts to Hunt and his future at the struggling joint venture club.
Hunt is under contract at the club until the end of 2025 with his manager, Col Davis, telling his high-profile client that he cannot be “weighed down” by Griffin’s demise.
“Ben has to keep his head down and arse up. He needs to find a way to move on,” Davis said.
“He has to try and hold an Origin spot (with Queensland). He has to get his head around this otherwise it will weigh him down.
“Ben has to keep going forward.
“He is there until the end of 2025 so he has to just wait and let the process unfold in regards to the new coach.”
Hunt continued his backing of Griffin right up until the coach was dumped on Monday morning.
Players continued to talk among each other after Griffin’s dismissal, many questioning how their club handled the entire issue.
Hunt has previously stated he may look at joining another club if Griffin was terminated.
Griffin and Hunt were born in the regional Queensland city of Rockhampton.
In April, Hunt said: “(Griffin) has been here for a couple of years now and we are building in a direction I believe is the right direction.
“I believe if you take away your coach and bring a new coach in, it’s going to start that cycle again and to be honest I don’t have the time to start it all again.
“I’m getting to the back end and I’m not really keen on starting fresh.”
Pressed on whether he would re-evaluate his career should Griffin be dumped, Hunt said: “You would definitely have a think about it and reassess maybe.”
A certainty for Queensland selection, Hunt has been linked to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Hunt and his St George Illawarra teammates - along with football club staff – were told of Griffin’s axing at an emergency meeting inside the club’s Wollongong headquarters at 9.30am on Monday.
Players were also told at that meeting that assistant Ryan Carr would be interim coach for the remainder of this season.
St George Illawarra is $2.80 outsiders to win Friday night’s game against the Sydney Roosters ($1.44) at Kogarah, according to TAB.
NSW Origin hopeful locked in on mega deal
— Phil Rothfield
The Canberra Raiders have locked up Origin hopeful Hudson Young on a new four-year contract.
The 24-year-old edge forward has signed until the end of 2027 in a deal worth around $2.8 million.
His manager Sam Ayoub finalised the agreement after a meeting with coach Ricky Stuart in Canberra on Monday afternoon.
Young is one of the form edge forwards in the competition and is rated a chance of making the NSW Blues this year, at least from the bench.
He scored 14 tries for the Raiders last year and has five this season.
Young was already under contract until the end of next season but approached the club recently around an extension and upgrade.
TIGERS STEP UP BID FOR JOHNSON
—Michael Carayannis
Wests Tigers are ramping up their pursuit of Kiwi star Shaun Johnson after meeting with the Warriors halfback in recent days.
The Tigers are set to offer Johnson a two-year contract to finish his NRL career in Australia in a surprise bid to pry him away from the Warriors. The Warriors are aware of the Tigers interest and are comfortable with Johnson exploring his options.
The Warriors are yet to formally sit down with Johnson but the two-year contract which is set to be offered by the Tigers could be problematic for New Zealand based team.
The Warriors are keen on retaining Johnson but that would most likely be on a 12-month contract. The two-year rich offer from the Tigers might be enough to entice him to the club.
Johnson is on a deal worth about $500,000 at the Warriors while the Tigers would be prepared to offer about $1.2 million over two years if he joined them next season.
Johnson was in Sydney for the Warriors’ clash against the Bulldogs where he starred in the first half laying on two tries.
The Tigers are desperate to land an experienced half after missing out on the likes of Cameron Munster, Mitchell Pearce and Mitchell Moses in recent months and just last week Tigers coach Tim Sheens confirmed his club’s interest in Johnson.
The move throws into severe doubt the playing future of off-contract halfback Luke Brooks at the Tigers.
Johnson is the last experienced half on the market. At 32 though he needs to weigh up if he wants to relocate to Sydney again after three years at the Sharks and if he is willing to play beyond 2024.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster said after his team’s 24-12 win against the Bulldogs that Johnson “should be proud” that there is interest in him.
There were calls for Johnson to retire at the end of last season after he struggled living away from his family. But a return to Auckland this year and a shift in mindset for him to become a controlling half has resulted in Johnson producing his most consistent season in years.
Johnson told ABC Sport after the game that he was at ease with his on-field performances.
“I am feeling comfortable with where I am at,” Johnson said.
“I still have a lot of things to work on. I am feeling in control. I am just glad I am back to enjoying it. I’m glad I am home and around my family.”
Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak praised his veteran teammate after scoring a try off a Johnson cross-field kick.
“It’s beautiful playing outside Shaun, he is flying,” Watene-Zelezniak said.
”I am glad he is on my right edge.”
BUNNIES RISK LOSING GUN PROP AS BULLDOGS, EELS CIRCLE
—David Riccio
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou has declared the club won’t give up without a fight to keep off-contract forward Hame Sele.
The Rabbitohs first salary cap test since signing Jack Wighton can be revealed with the Bunnies hopes of retaining Sele at increasing odds with the Bulldogs firming alongside Parramatta to sign the hard-running prop.
Sele has met with both Bulldogs and Eels officials in recent weeks with the 26-year-old close to making a major call on his career.
Sele, who began his NRL journey at St George-Illawarra (2017-2018) before moving to Penrith (2019) and then South Sydney in 2021, has proven a pivotal member in the Rabbitohs pack in 2023.
He has been chosen to start in the front-row for Souths against the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
During a period of injury to the Rabbitohs pack, Sele has emerged as a starting prop for Demetriou with his seven matches so far this season providing seven tackle busts and almost 100 metres per game.
The Bunnies head coach said he was aware of rival interest in Sele, but hadn’t given up on retaining the talent.
“I have a good relationship with Hame and we want him to stay,” Demetriou said.
“We’ve offered him an upgraded deal, he knows we want him to remain a part of our club, so hopefully he stays.’’
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