Allan Langer says keeping halfback Ben Hunt is a key factor in Brisbane’s future success

BRONCOS legend Allan Langer thinks keeping a vital combination will help Brisbane break their NRL title drought — and Wayne Bennett is making moves to ensure it happens.

Ben Hunt is key to Brisbane’s future success. Picture: Darren England

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WAYNE Bennett has spoken of his desire to keep Ben Hunt in Brisbane colours as the Broncos made moves to lock up their star playmakers.

The Broncos have submitted a three-year offer to Hunt and recently opened formal discussions with five-eighth Anthony Milford.

Hunt and Milford are both off-contract at the end of 2017 and already attracting interest from rival clubs.

The Dragons are understood to be formulating a plan to poach Hunt while Milford’s explosive development is expected to see a long list of suitors express interest in the 22-year-old dynamo.

Negotiations with Milford could be protracted, but the Broncos are hopeful of locking up 166-game stalwart Hunt before Christmas.

Ben Hunt goes through his paces at Broncos training. Picture: Liam Kidston

Coach Bennett returned to Broncos training this week following his Four Nations commitments with England and said he wanted Hunt to stay at Red Hill.

“We’re always trying to keep our players here and he’s no different,” Bennett said.

“We don’t want Ben to leave. We are negotiating with him and his management.”

Hunt and Milford were just seconds away from piloting Brisbane to the 2015 premiership and hit a purple patch of form late last season to fall just two games short of the grand final.

They were maligned at times during Brisbane’s 2016 campaign, but some of their lean form could be attributed to the fact their 2015 heroics made them marked men.

Hunt, 26, became a father in the off-season and has looked sharp during the opening weeks of pre-season training while Milford kept fit during his break by boxing multiple times a week.

Anthony Milford has produced two electric seasons at Brisbane. Picture: Annette Dew

Broncos legend Allan Langer urged Hunt and Milford to stay at Brisbane and form a long-term combination to break the club’s 11-year premiership drought.

“(Hunt) probably knows himself he didn’t have his best year but after what’s he’s done over the last few years he can only improve,” Langer said.

“The Broncos have to try and keep him. He can win you games.

“His combination with Milford is important. We need to keep both of them if the Broncos are to go forward.

“They haven’t been far off winning a comp in the last two years.

“If him and Milford are firing we’re going to go close to winning one.”

Milford’s manager, Sam Ayoub, said he was yet to hold any serious discussions with rival clubs.

“We’ve had an initial chat (with the Broncos),” Ayoub said.

“He is happy and settled. He is enjoying himself up there and is playing good footy.

“At this stage we are only talking to the Broncos and we’ll leave it at that.”

Originally published as Allan Langer says keeping halfback Ben Hunt is a key factor in Brisbane’s future success