Former NRL coach Anthony Griffin reveals why free agent Ben Hunt is such a rare commodity

As the Broncos prepare to make a move for Maroons and Kangaroos star Ben Hunt, his long-time mentor explains why the race to sign the free agent is such a rare opportunity.

Broncos training at Red Hill. Coach Anthony Griffin with Ben Hunt. Pic Jono Searle

Ben Hunt has at least two years left in first grade football and his signature will be a “rare coup’’ for the Broncos or any club that signs him.

This is the view of Hunt’s long-time coach and mentor, former Broncos coach Anthony Griffin, who feels Hunt is a standout option in an ever tightening contract market.

Hunt has split with the Dragons and the Broncos are working through salary cap issues in the hope of making him an offer.

It is unlikely the Broncos offer will be the richest Hunt receives but he has prioritised going to a club with a chance of winning a title and admits there was a “romantic’’ connection with his former club Brisbane.

“Whoever gets him is going to land a great asset,’’ said Griffin who first coached Hunt as a teenager then at first grade at the Broncos and Dragons.

“For any club, particularly Brisbane, getting him would be a real coup.

Several clubs are interested in signing Ben Hunt. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“There is just no players on the market any more. It has got very tight now that it is a 17 team competition and it will get even worse when it goes to 18.

“It is a real players market. It is so hard to recruit at the moment. Clubs just don’t let those really good players get to the market. And to have a playmaker like Ben on the market is extremely rare.’’

Hunt may be 34 but he has shown remarkable resilience to play 19 games or more in 14 of the last 15 seasons and Griffin feels his advancing years should not be an issue.

“He is a real professional. He works really hard on his body. He has a couple of seasons left at least. He has that Queensland country durability about him. Natural strength.

Anthony Griffin on free agent Ben Hunt.

“He is a bit like Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk ... guys who knew how to get around the park and played until their late 30s and Ben could do that as well.’’

The Broncos had another tough training session on Monday under new coach Michael Maguire but recently re-signed forward Xavier Willison said the players were bonding through the sweat and toil.

“Preseasons never get easy,’’ Willison said.

“We are all committing as a group, growing and getting better. It is just about coming in together and having breakfast together. It has been good.

“We have been connecting really well.’’

Willison came through the champion Palm Beach Currumbin SHS system where he was ahead of his time, playing Langer Trophy as a Year 10 student.

Tremendously athletic in the middle, he has twice battled back from serious knee injuries - once as a schoolboy, and then after making his NRL debut in 2021 and is expected to push for a starting spot next season which is his goal.

Originally published as Former NRL coach Anthony Griffin reveals why free agent Ben Hunt is such a rare commodity