‘Not a chance’: Andrew Johns fumes at Ben Hunt contract rumour

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns was left baffled at reports Ben Hunt requested to have his contract extension tied to his coach.

Ben Hunt and Andrew Johns.

Rugby league legend Andrew Johns was left stunned at reports that Dragons captain Ben Hunt requested to have his contract extension tied to coach Anthony Griffin’s future at the embattled club.

The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that Hunt’s bid to have his two-year extension for 2024 and 2025 linked to Griffin’s future, whose deal expires at the end of 2023, was shut down.

Hunt’s management tried to align his two-year deal with a potential extension for Griffin, but the club said they would not consider the scenario.

The development is a huge sign the Dragons remain unsure if Griffin is the right man to coach the club long-term.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The Dragons only signed Griffin to a one-year extension at the start of the 2022 season and rumours persist the club may go in a different direction after they failed to make the finals for the second consecutive year.

Johns was bitterly unimpressed with the rumours, arguing that players “shouldn’t be allowed” to push for this sort of clause request.

“No. Not a chance,” he told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.

“Your captain or your player doesn’t decide who’s the coach.

“I can understand his loyalty … obviously they’ve got that relationship, but you cannot be dictating to the club that if the coach goes you go.”

Hunt was recently low-balled with a $700,000 a season extension offer, but reports suggest the club will up that offer to $875,000 in a bid to ward off rival clubs from poaching their captain.

However, it remains to be seen if Hunt will sign with the uncertainty surrounding who will coach the club raging on.

“If I was going to sign Ben Hunt now, I think he’s upwards of $900,000, a million dollars, because there’s no halves around,” Johns continued.

“He’ll get the Dally M (Medal) this year.

“He has carried that club, and I think he’s still got two, three really good years in him … you see what other halves are getting.”

Ben Hunt of the Dragons. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

But NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler pointed out that the Dragons have only qualified for the final once in the last five years, arguing team performance should be taken into account.

“I don’t think you can demand $900,000, a million. I think if anything you’ve got to give back to the club a little bit. I think $750,000, $800,000 is fair. They’ve been to the semis once (in Hunt’s time at the club),” Fittler said.

“He’s had a brilliant season — all through Origin and Dragons. So, you can’t deny that.

“At some stage … if you’re taking the money you’ve got to take the responsibility as well as leading the club into semis and getting the club better.

“It’s not just because you look good or you’ve got good flair.

“So, I think it’s fair.

“Plus, with that money, with the other money, if you’re demanding $1.3 (million) … then that means you can get other good players around you.”

The Dragons will next face the Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with kick off scheduled for 2pm AEST.

— with foxsports.com.au

Originally published as ‘Not a chance’: Andrew Johns fumes at Ben Hunt contract rumour