Ben Hunt will stay at the St George Illawarra Dragons for 2024 following Shane Flanagan’s appointment

St George Illawarra’s captain and most influential player has put an end to the threat of the club’s 2024 campaign being derailed.

NRL 2023 RD24 South Sydney Rabbitohs v St. George Illawarra Dragons - Ben Hunt NRL PHOTOS

Ben Hunt has committed to staying at the Dragons next season, putting an end to the threat of the club’s 2024 season being derailed by their captain upping and leaving.

St George Illawarra’s most influential player has also lifted the lid on the attitude adjustment being implemented by head coach Shane Flanagan.

“The conversations I’ve had with him, (2024) is going to be a team built on hard work and discipline and competing right to the final whistle,” Hunt told Fox Sports News.

“He believes over the past few years there have been a lot of guys who haven’t really fought for that extra inch and he wants to be a team who can grind teams out and really fight right to the death.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do to get to that point but it’s exciting.”

Contracted until the end of 2025, Hunt asked for an immediate release halfway through last season after he became disillusioned with the direction of the club, which included the sacking of former coach and close mentor Anthony Griffin.

Hunt was one of the first players Flanagan contacted when he was appointed to replace Griffin, wanting the Test playmaker to be part of the club’s long-term vision for success.

Hunt stopped short of declaring he would be at the club in 2025.

Ben Hunt has committed to the Dragons for 2024. Picture: NRL Imagery

However, declaration that he is all-in for 2024 – indicative by his decision to commence pre-season training earlier than scheduled – at least allows the Dragons to use next season to chase a replacement should the 33-year-old ask to leave at the end of next year.

“I’m definitely committed for next year and want to win a premiership,” Hunt said.

“Flanno has come here to do the same thing and I know we’ve got a long way to go and a lot of things need to change for that to happen but it would be pretty special after the career I’ve had and how things have gone, to go out with a premiership is a big dream but you’ve got to go after it.

“Flanno reached out and asked if I could come back a couple of days early, we’ve got a lot of young guys down there and he wanted me to come back for their big field days and help out and I thought I’d jump in.”

Hunt is pivotal to the Dragons attack in 2024, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding five-eighth Junior Amone, who will be sentenced on Monday over assault charges.

Kyle Flanagan has emerged as Hunt’s halves partner while at fullback, Zac Lomax and Tyrell Sloan will duel for the No.1 jumper.

“It’s a tough one to pick at the moment with Junior’s thing going on and Kyle (Flanagan) training really well,” Hunt said.

“The fullback is a tough one too, Sloany is injured at the moment so he’s not getting much training in and Zac is working really hard and improving his game.

“They both have different strengths, Sloany is more of an attacking player, really brings that element whereas Zac is probably better in defence so it’ll come down to what Flanno wants.”

Originally published as Ben Hunt will stay at the St George Illawarra Dragons for 2024 following Shane Flanagan’s appointment