NRL market watch: Dolphins’ cap space could blow rivals out of water in Ben Hunt chase

The race for Ben Hunt’s signature is set to heat up and the Dolphins are ready to show their hand, which could blow rivals out of the water. SEE THE LATEST.

The Battle of Brisbane for Ben Hunt has intensified with River City rivals the Dolphins armed with a $1.3 million salary-cap war chest to outbid the Broncos for the Queensland Origin star.

Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has confirmed his interest in Hunt and says he is open to negotiations with the former Dragons skipper, who is poised to make a definitive call on his future.

Hunt, named 18th man for Australia, will ramp-up contract talks when he completes his Kangaroos commitments after Sunday’s Pacific Championships final against a Tongan side coached by Woolf.

The Broncos have entered the race for Hunt, making preliminary inquiries last week, while the Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters have also been linked with the Maroons matchwinner.

But few clubs have the fiscal strength of the Dolphins, who have been so prudent with their salary-cap management they have more than $1 million available to spend on potential recruits for 2025.

Under departing super coach Wayne Bennett, the Dolphins kept their powder dry and that patience gives them the spending power to blow NRL suitors out of the water for Hunt’s signature.

Money alone may not be Hunt’s motivating factor, with the 34-year-old desperate to claim a maiden premiership ring in his twilight years after his Broncos heartbreak in their 2015 grand-final loss to the Cowboys.

Woolf, who will succeed Bennett as Dolphins head coach next season, says he is content with his current roster, but is ready to put out the welcome mat if Hunt wants a move from the Red V to Redcliffe.

“We are always keen to have a chat to available players,” Woolf said.

“I am being honest here — I haven’t spoken to him.

“But if Ben is keen to have a chat then I am definitely keen to have a chat to him as well.

“I am really happy with the squad we have at the Dolphins.

“I know we have a squad there where we can improve on what we have built the last couple of years.

“I am happy if there are no changes there, but Ben Hunt is a class player.

“So if he is keen to have a chat to us, we will certainly do that.

“We’ll see how it goes.”

Woolf has a history with Hunt. The Tonga and Dolphins coach was a Broncos staffer during the playmaker’s nine-season stint at Brisbane before his move to the Dragons on a $6 million deal in 2018.

Hunt would be guaranteed a starting spot at Redcliffe, who are craving scrumbase depth to support Dolphins and Tonga’s rising halfback star Isaiya Katoa.

It’s understood the Broncos have around $500,000 free in their salary-cap, but they could free-up further funds if forward Kobe Hetherington is offloaded amid interest from Wests Tigers and the Dragons.

Hunt’s 2025 Dragons contract was worth an estimated $950,000 and the NRL salary-cap auditor is unlikely to rubberstamp any new deal well shy of the $1 million mark.

Hunt turns 35 in March and it’s understood his management will seek a minimum two-year deal for the veteran of 334 first-grade games.

Signing Hunt could be an insurance policy for the Broncos, who are resigned to losing five-eighth Ezra Mam to suspension for the start of the 2025 premiership following his off-field car crash saga.

Champion halfback Adam Reynolds is tipped to retire next year, which could open the door for Hunt to wear the Broncos No.7 jumper if he played on at age 36 in 2026.

Sources close to Hunt say he has become accustomed to life in Sydney and is now settled in the Harbour City, which brings Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs into the equation.

Brisbane vice-captain Pat Carrigan has urged the club to make a play for Hunt and superstar prop Payne Haas is the latest Bronco hoping for a Red Hill reunion.

“Honestly, I would love it if Ben came back,” Haas said.

“I’ll be so excited to be honest if we signed him. Obviously, I will let the higher powers sort that out and hopefully they can.

“Ben Hunt is an original Bronco and when I first came to the club, he was around as well.

“He’s a world-class player. He brings leadership qualities and there’s not a lot of players in the game today with his experience.

“If we can get him somehow, it would be pretty special.”