The whopping figures behind the deal that lured Ben Hunt away from Brisbane

AHEAD of the blockbuster season opener that pits Ben Hunt against his former club, details of the monster contract that lured the 27-year-old away from Brisbane is revealed for the first time.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — FEBRUARY 17: Ben Hunt of the Dragons catches the ball during the NRL trial match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Hull at ANZ Stadium on February 17, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

BEN Hunt will pocket a $3.6 million bonus at the Dragons as Wayne Bennett backed the former Broncos golden boy to fire against Brisbane.

Hunt will make his first appearance against the club that delivered him an NRL career when the Broncos and Dragons face off in the premiership opener at Kogarah.

Hunt, 27, signed with Brisbane as a teenager and spent 10 years at Red Hill, earning Kangaroos and Maroons jerseys during his 187-game career at the Broncos.

But the lure of big dollars at St George-Illawarra proved too hard to resist for the boy from Blackwater, who signed a whopping six-year contract with the Dragons before a ball had been kicked last year.

LISTEN: Why we need the NRL season to start ... and so does Matt Lodge

Ahead of the showdown, The Courier-Mail can reveal the staggering lengths St George-Illawarra went through to prise Hunt out of Queensland.

The Broncos tabled Hunt a three-year offer worth $2.4 million in the hope he would partner Anthony Milford at Brisbane’s scrumbase until at least 2020.

However, the Dragons trumped Brisbane’s offer with a $6 million contract, which will see Hunt paid $1.25 million annually in 2022-23.

The sixth and final year of the contract is an option in Hunt’s favour, a major carrot considering he will turn 33 in 2023.

The guaranteed $3.6 million disparity in offers was impossible for Hunt to resist and coach Bennett admitted Brisbane simply could not match it.

LODGE: Pills made me a predator

LASH OUT: Bennett rips into media

“That wasn’t a hard decision (to let him go), we just couldn’t offer the money that he was getting offered somewhere else,” he said.

“That makes it easier when you have that dilemma. He felt it was the right time for him. He was a wonderful player and we wish him well.

“Once you play at the Broncos, expectation is always so high here. He would be used to the expectation, I don’t think it will be a problem.

“The Dragons fans have high expectations but Ben can deliver on all that, it’s not something he should be worried about.”

Hunt has often been a maligned playmaker.

His form has fluctuated and his ability to close out tight games has been questioned given he has not kicked a field goal in nine NRL seasons.

Hunt has signed a huge, six-year deal with the Dragons.

He was dropped to the Intrust Super Cup by Bennett last year but bounced back to make his Queensland Origin debut in the decider and secure a berth in the Kangaroos’ victorious World Cup squad.

At his best, Hunt is a world class playmaker and Broncos captain Darius Boyd said he expected the Dragons No. 7 to come out firing against his former club.

“Benny will be up for it,” he said.

“He will do a great job for that club, they are a proud club with a strong history and becoming an Origin and Test player will give Ben some confidence.

“I wouldn’t say he’s a target. He doesn’t have many weaknesses. He is a tough guy for a halfback, he defends well and we have our work cut out stopping him.”