NRL 2025: Ben Hunt opens up on Brisbane Broncos return, 2015 grand final heartbreak
In a wide-ranging interview, Ben Hunt has opened up on his Broncos return, his excitement of linking up with Reece Walsh, and the 2015 grand final sledge that still gets to him.
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Ben Hunt insists he is not a spent force in the NRL and is primed to strike a lethal alliance with superstar fullback Reece Walsh in a bid to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.
Hunt is returning to the Broncos next season on the 10th anniversary of arguably his worst moment in football – the extra-time blunder that marred Brisbane’s 2015 heartbreaking grand-final loss to the Cowboys.
But a decade on, Hunt says he is not haunted by his grand-final agony and is relishing the prospect of teaming with Adam Reynolds in the Broncos halves to unleash ‘Reece Lightning’ next season.
The 34-year-old revealed how close he came to signing with the Roosters, addressed talk of a feud with Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and says there is possibility he could play on at Brisbane at age 37 in 2027.
THE DREAM TEAM
Reece Walsh shapes as the X-factor in Brisbane’s 2025 title assault. The superstar fullback has the talent to be the most destructive attacking weapon in the code and Hunt wants to unlock the true brilliance of the Maroons maestro.
Walsh played a key role in Brisbane’s charge to the 2023 decider. The 22-year-old endured an injury and concussion-ravaged 2024 campaign, but Hunt has worked with Walsh in the Queensland Origin set-up over the past two seasons and wants to ignite Brisbane’s $5 million man.
“I’m really excited to be playing with a guy like Reece, he is a freakish talent with speed to burn,” Hunt said.
“I have watched a lot of ‘Walshy’ play and I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to be with him in Origin camp.
“I’m looking forward to working on our game plans with ‘Reyno’ (Reynolds) because between us two old heads, we can steer the ship around and bring the best out in Reece and the rest of the side.
“Reece has unleashed himself pretty well the last few years, but any way I can come in, get him more involved in the game and get him more quality ball in better positions, I think I can help him with that.
“We (Hunt and Reynolds) can be very beneficial for the side and I’d love to help the younger guys take their game to another level, Reece included.”
THE HEARTBREAK
The sight of a shattered Hunt being consoled by Wayne Bennett in the seconds after Brisbane’s 2015 grand final remains a gut-wrenching image for Broncos fans.
The 34-year-old says he is no longer haunted by his grand-final blunder, but admits the chance to win a Broncos premiership that cruelly eluded him a decade ago was a factor in his decision.
“It (the 2015 grand-final loss) definitely pops up in your mind now and then,” Hunt said.
“I still get the odd fan here and there that brings it up and reminds me.
“For the large part, I have put it behind me. I have had an amazing family and people around me to help with that, but you always get a comment here and there that triggers that thought.”
Asked if he has unfinished business at the Broncos, Hunt said: “I hadn’t thought about it as unfinished business, but I have definitely thought about coming home and being able to go one step further.
“I would love nothing more than to bring the premiership back to Brisbane. It would have been 10 years next year since the 2015 grand final so it would be a pretty cool story if I could come back and win one.
“It would be the ultimate. As proud as I am of what I have done playing for my state and country, winning a premiership with the Broncos would mean everything.
“That’s what we play the game for. Everyone wants to win a comp and that’s definitely the goal next year.”
BONDI AMBUSH
While the Dolphins tabled the richest offer with a two-year, $1.4 million deal, the Roosters and Bulldogs were viewed as the greatest threats to a Red Hill reunion.
Hunt’s initial preference was to remain in Sydney for family reasons, but professionally, he knew the clock was ticking on achieving his final frontier of winning a premiership.
The Queensland Origin star confirmed meeting with Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould, while Roosters coach Trent Robinson was keen to inject Hunt into his playmaking spine.
The offers from the Broncos and Roosters were virtually identical. Hunt says an analysis of each club’s roster in 2025 – and their title prospects – was influential in his decision to finish his career in Broncos colours.
“Yes, that (looking at the rosters) played a part in it,” he said.
“I was very close to signing with the Roosters. I also had some brief discussions with Phil (Gould) early in the piece. We didn’t go too far into things, but we had a couple of discussions here and there. The first thing he wanted to find out was whether I wanted to be in Sydney or return home.
“There were a couple of options for staying in Sydney, but in the end that desire to play for the Broncos drew me back home.
“It was just always in my heart, the thought of playing for the Broncos again. The club has given me so much when I was younger and I started off my career there and the opportunity to finish there, I didn’t think it would happen.
“With the Broncos roster, I see a club with immense talent and a club that can win a premiership over the next two years.
“In the end, it was too hard to pass up.
“Old Cyril Connell (the late Broncos scout who signed Hunt as a 13-year-old) would be up there doing cartwheels at me coming back, he would be drinking a few cans of coke.”
THE DRAGONS
Hunt’s seven-season, 147-game stint for the Dragons had some bright moments but it ended in controversy. The Australian utility was at loggerheads with the club for two years over the Dragons’ political direction, prompting him to ask for a release last year.
Incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan rejected it. The pair tried to get the Red V firing this year, but Hunt finally wanted out at season’s end amid speculation his relationship with Flanagan was untenable.
Hunt addressed talk of a feud with Flanagan.
“I wouldn’t say we had a big fallout, no,” he said. “Look, there were a couple of things we didn’t agree on, but that’s going to happen with every coach.
“I’ve had it happen with a number of coaches. I wouldn’t say we had a fallout, but in the end I just wanted a fresh start and go where I could enjoy my footy for two years and try and win a competition before it’s over for me.”
Hunt was handed an NRL record $1.2 million deal to win a title for the Dragons and lamented his inability to deliver.
“It was disappointing,” he said.
“The goal for anyone is to win an NRL competition. I went down there with high hopes expecting us to really push for a competition.
“The way things ended was disappointing, but I feel like I can still hold my head high with the quality of footy I played there.
“I competed as hard as I could every week and gave it my all. I feel like I can say I played some of my best footy at the Dragons.
“As disappointing as it was, I still enjoyed my time there.”
THE REPLACEMENT
South Sydney reject Ilias is tasked with succeeding Hunt and striking a scrumbase alliance with Flanagan’s son, Kyle, to engineer a Dragons finals fightback in 2025.
If anyone can appreciate the pressure to perform in the Red V playmaking furnace, it is Hunt. Dragons fans can be savage in their treatment of marquee recruits who fail to consistently fire, but Hunt hopes the maligned Ilias can prove his critics wrong.
“I think Lachlan will go well,” he said.
“He went to Souths with a lot of expectation on him and he played some good footy.
“He faded away a bit last season and found himself getting dropped, but I think he is a quality player and getting a fresh start will be good for him.
“He might not have as much of the spotlight on him that he did at Souths, so hopefully he goes there and enjoys himself.”
THE POLITICS
Unwittingly, Hunt became the political face of the strife-torn Dragons in recent seasons.
The club’s younger stars sought his counsel on internal problems and Hunt privately believes the Dragons failed in their promise to him to sign more players - an assurance that initially convinced him to sign a contract extension.
There is a view the Dragons are rivalling the Wests Tigers as a front-office basketcase, but Hunt has no ill-feeling towards the club. He believes the Red V is showing signs of genuine recovery under Flanagan, who had the club two wins away from a finals appearance in 2024.
“There were definitely a lot of things going on that were out of my control,” he said.
“To be honest, I did think I would finish my career at the Dragons. I looked at the length of my contract and I thought that’s six years, that would probably see me out.
“It’s not just the Dragons (where drama happens). It happens at a lot of clubs.
“Yes, there were some things I could have controlled better, but all I tried to do was play good footy and I feel like I was pretty consistent for the club.
“They have done a few things already to improve. They have brought some leadership into the club.
“Valentine Holmes is a good signing and guys like ‘Cooky’ (ex-Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook) and ‘Gutho’ (former Eels skipper Clint Gutherson) are the ultimate competitors and real leaders.
“Lachlan Ilias will be good for them in the halves, so I think they can do well next year. The bones of the squad are there and with a bit of leadership and steel, they will be a decent side.”
THE COACH
New Broncos coach Maguire has a reputation for pushing players to breaking point. Hunt believes Maguire can extract more from him in his twilight years.
“I’ve had plenty of pre-season floggings over the years,” Hunt said with a laugh.
“I’ve heard the boys have had some tough sessions, so I’m looking forward to getting back to the hot Queensland weather.
“Madge really impressed me when we met. There wasn’t one particular thing, but I really enjoyed my conversations with him. Just his knowledge of the game and his experience and what he has achieved in his career. I’m looking forward to working with him and his assistant staff as well.
“Trent Barrett is taking over their attack and I’ve spoken to Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly and Queensland skipper) about when he was with ‘Baz’ at Manly. He couldn’t speak highly enough of him as an attack coach.
“’Chez’ had huge wraps on Baz as an attack coach. He said if you ever happen to be coached by him, he will take you to another level.
“That’s good to hear.”
SIX APPEAL
With boom five-eighth Ezra Mam facing suspension for the 2025 premiership opener, Hunt is expected to start the season in the No.6 jumper alongside Reynolds.
While halfback is his preferred position, he is open to a multifaceted role shifting to hooker - just as he does for the Maroons at Origin level.
“It’s not too big a change playing six,” Hunt said. “If you have a close look at how I played at the Dragons this year, I was basically playing a six role. The number on the back doesn’t bother me too much.
“I have been watching ‘Reyno’ for a long time and really admired how he goes about his game. He has one of the best kicking games in the comp and to come in and play alongside him is something I am really excited about as well. He is a real game organiser. I can organise games too, but this will allow me to play my footy off the cuff and enjoy working with the backline.
“I’ve always said my preference is to play in the halves. When it comes down to it, if Ezra comes back at some stage, then it’s a pretty handy spine to be involved in.
“If I have to play at hooker, then I’ll do that. Ezra is a very talented player and he knows he has made some mistakes, but if does happen to come back into the side, we will work things out then, but it will be a good spine if I move to hooker to fit Ezra in.
“We’ll have great depth.”
THE FUTURE
Hunt turns 35 next March and is adamant he has the skill set to win a premiership, despite having yet to lift the NRL trophy after 334 games.
The kid from Dingo in Central Queensland is expected to retire at the end of 2026, but revealed there is a possibility he could emulate Cameron Smith and play beyond his 37th birthday if his body holds up.
“I definitely think I can help a club win a comp,” he said.
“I feel like I have something to offer and I’d like to think I can contribute in a big way and take the Broncos to finals footy. If I didn’t think I was still up to it, I don’t think I would be here and clubs wouldn’t want me to be here.
“I still feel good at age 34 so I feel as though I have two really good years left in me and that might not be the end either. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
“Right now, I feel like I could play on longer than two years, but two years at my age can change quickly.
“I will get to the end of this deal and see where I’m at, but I’m just grateful to the Broncos for these two years and I will throw everything I have got into them.
“A premiership really would cap off a great career – a strange career at times – but I want to lift that NRL trophy for the Broncos.”
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