Brisbane Broncos and Canterbury Bulldogs last clubs standing in battle for Ben Hunt

The Dolphins are out of the race to sign Ben Hunt and the Roosters’ bid is collapsing, leaving the Broncos and Bulldogs left to battle it out for the ageing star’s services.

The Broncos are in the box seat to sign Ben Hunt with the Queensland Origin star set to rule out a move to expansion rivals the Dolphins as D-Day approaches.

This masthead can reveal the battle for Hunt’s signature has taken a dramatic twist, with a rumoured move to the Roosters in danger of collapsing, while Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould is poised to make a last-ditch pitch.

That has sensationally opened the door for an ambush from the Broncos, who have been proactively courting Hunt in their push to engineer a Red Hill reunion.

Hunt’s initial preference was to remain in Sydney for family reasons in the wake of his departure from the Dragons - leaving the Roosters and Bulldogs as serious options.

But well-placed sources say Hunt is now leaning towards the Broncos after a tour of Brisbane’s opulent $27 million training headquarters, where he held preliminary talks with coach Michael Maguire and CEO Dave Donaghy.

Ben Hunt last played for the Kangaroos in the Pacific Cup. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Hunt also met with Brisbane’s River City rivals the Dolphins during his Sunshine State sortie, but it’s understood the 34-year-old has little interest in a move to Redcliffe.

Hunt left Brisbane at the end of 2017, just as the club’s new training headquarters was being finalised, and he returned home last weekend to be blown away by the unrivalled infrastructure of the Broncos.

The Australian utility still owns property in Brisbane and during last year’s Origin series, Hunt spoke of his desire to come home to Queensland.

The Roosters were rated the frontrunner to win Hunt’s signature, but it’s understood the Bondi glamour club has salary-cap constraints and may not be able to win a bidding war.

Hunt has run his eye over the individual rosters of his suitors - Brisbane, the Roosters, Dolphins and Bulldogs - and believes the Broncos are a ready-made force to help him achieve his final frontier: winning a premiership.

It’s believed no club has tabled a formal deal for Hunt at this stage, but he hopes to garner all offers over the weekend with a view to making a definitive call early next week.

Ben Hunt played 187 games for the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: Getty Images

Canterbury supremo Gould shapes as the X-factor in Brisbane’s attempted raid.

The Bulldogs have largely kept their powder dry, watching the Hunt machinations with interest, but after missing out on Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen, Gould may up the ante in a bid to bring some playmaking experience to Belmore.

Canterbury have set a budget of around $550,000 if they made an official move for Hunt and that figure may not be enough to secure the 334-game veteran.

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, but Redcliffe are currently a distant last in the race.

One advantage for the Broncos is Hunt’s history with the club - he made his debut for Brisbane in 2009 and has unfinished business after the heartbreak of his 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 said last week the Maroons maestro can help break Brisbane’s 19-year title drought in 2025.