‘Given up on the club’: Dragons players ‘filthy’ over Ben Hunt saga

Dragons players have “given up on the club” amid a drama-filled season, “filthy” about a shocking incident ahead of Ben Hunt’s 300th game.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons during the round 11 NRL match against North Queensland at Qld Country Bank Stadium on May 13, 2023. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Dragons players have “given up on the club” amid a drama-filled season and six straight losses, “filthy” that “not one official from the club attended” the function celebrating Ben Hunt’s 300th game.

Coach Anthony Griffin was finally sacked at a club board meeting on Tuesday, but it is being reported that players have more animosity towards the Dragons’ brass than they do Griffin.

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Veteran journalists Phil Rothfield and Brent Read said on NRL 360 that the players are “dirty” on the Dragons management for their response, or lack thereof, around Griffin’s job status this season, which has been up in the air since before a ball was kicked in 2023.

“I don’t think they have given up on him (Griffin),” Rothfield said.

“I think they’ve given up on the club Buzz,” Read responded, to which Rothfield said: “I agree.

“The players are dirty on management that this has dragged on and on. The last six weeks, and not one word from the management about the future direction the club is going to take.”

Ben Hunt of the Dragons walks onto the field with his family for his 300th NRL game against the Cowboys at Qld Country Bank Stadium on May 13, 2023. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Rothfield delved into controversy around the dinner last Tuesday celebrating Hunt’s milestone held at Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.

“You know the respect the Ben Hunt has not just at the club but in the game,” Rothfield said.

“Last Tuesday night on the Gold Coast, there was a function for the players. Ben Hunt’s parents drove from Emerald, Kevin Walters came down with some of the Broncos players but chief executive Brian Webb, chairman Andrew Lancaster and not one board member bothered to get on a plane and salute Ben Hunt.

Ben Hunt with a try-assist on his 300th game to put Jack De Belin over the line 👏 #NRLCowboysDragonspic.twitter.com/rAyojoFQHx

— NRL (@NRL) May 13, 2023

“I think it’s appalling. There is no excuse.

“I heard from one of the players that they were filthy that no one official attended that function. They were filthy.”

“It just shows that they are split,” Gorden Tallis said.

“If Kevvie Walters was prepared to drive down when he coaches another team, does that look bad on me if I’m the (Dragons) boss?”

Read argued that a number of key members of the Dragons front office was in attendance for Hunt’s 300th game against the Cowboys in Townsville, but the rest of the panel said “that wasn’t good enough.”

“There was an official dinner that honoured this great player and no one turned up. It’s appalling,” Rothfield said.

Originally published as ‘Given up on the club’: Dragons players ‘filthy’ over Ben Hunt saga