Ben Hunt ‘not closing the door’ on Titans move as Dragons talks ‘on the backburner’

While it appeared all quiet after his shock release request in 2024, Ben Hunt has once again sparked fears he was set to leave the Dragons.

Ben Hunt has reinvigorated the rumour mill. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Ben Hunt has left the door open to return to his native Queensland and join the Gold Coast Titans should he fail to agree a new deal with the Dragons.

This time last year, Hunt – while at Origin camp – requested a release from the last two years of his deal with St George Illawarra amid concerns over the club’s direction.

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He was strongly linked to the Titans and subsequently to a late-season swap to the Broncos, but the Dragons steadfastly refused to allow him to leave, and new coach Shane Flanagan appeared to mend the relationship between the club and the Maroons rake.

Hunt yesterday revealed that mooted talks over a contract extension for 2026 were ‘on the backburner’ as he links up with the Maroons – but isn’t closing the door on a move to the Titans.

“Mate, I am not closing the door on anything at all,” Hunt said, per News Corp.

“At the moment, I’m happy at the Dragons and we’ll work through it. There’s no talks at the moment. I am trying to focus on a few other things at the Dragons and get our team going in the right direction.

“We’re in the Origin period now so that (Dragons contract talks) might be on the backburner, there’s no rush for anything down there. We’ll sort it out.”

Ben Hunt during training in the Queensland Origin 1 camp at Sanctuary Cove. Photo: Adam Head

Hunt currently cannot negotiate with rival clubs until November 1, but the 34-year-old only appears to be getting better with age – and his playmaking ability would be a massive boon for a team like the Titans.

Asked how long Hunt believes he can play on, the Dragons captain replied: “I honestly don’t know.

“I am still feeling good in my body.

“Touch wood, I have been very lucky with injuries. Sometimes it’s harder to pull up after games with a sore body and stuff, but at the moment I’m still feeling OK so we will see how we go.”

The Dragons captain sparked a firestorm when he formally asked the club for a release after former coach Anthony Griffin was fired last May.

While former premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan was named the club’s new mentor for 2024, it wasn’t enough to appease Hunt, who began angling for a release ahead of the second State of Origin clash.

The Ben Hunt saga may not be over. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

But the Dragons stood firm, refusing to allow their marquee player to leave despite his clear and publicly vocal displeasure at the club.

Hunt had signed an extension only eight months before the contract saga began.

Hunt declared at the time that he wanted to return to Queensland.

However, in the off-season, Hunt admitted he had a few regrets over his actions.

“I probably made it known pretty loud last year that it was getting pretty frustrating,” Hunt told Nine News.

“There’s regrets about parts of it. In a way, I’m happy that some things came to a head but it definitely could have been handled better, that’s for sure. It’s been a long couple of years and it sort of compounded into a few little things that sort of ticked it off at the end.

“If I could take the time back, I would do it differently.”

Originally published as Ben Hunt ‘not closing the door’ on Titans move as Dragons talks ‘on the backburner’