Fans say same thing after Ben Hunt goes missing in record Sharks beat down

Dragons fans have been as ruthless as the Sharks after the record drubbing in Cronulla turned the spotlight right back on Ben Hunt.

That was tough to watch. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

If this was a taste of what the rest of 2023 looks like then it’s in everyone’s best interests for Ben Hunt and the Dragons to part ways immediately.

The veteran halfback recorded just one run and was virtually unsighted as the battling Dragons were belted 52-16 by the Sharks in a horror show in the local derby.

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The club should be applauded for not granting him an immediate release, but there’s a real chance that things will only get worse as the year goes on if the wantaway playmaker is forced to play for a club he doesn’t want to be a part of anymore.

Hunt was the only player used in the first half not to run the ball in the opening 40 minutes, and things only got worse after that when the Dragons skipper failed to find touch with a penalty kick.

He finished the night with five running metres and an offload that ended up with Tyrell Sloan running almost the length of the field for his side’s only try after halftime.

Ben Hunt has been slammed. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

After full-time, “Ben Hunt” was trending on Twitter, with fans taking up the halves case to get released from the club.

Ben Hunt might ask for an immediate release after that performance

— Adam Hayward (@AdzSportz) June 29, 2023

My well-being is important here. Let Ben Hunt leave @NRL_Dragons . I'm hurting more seeing him have to suffer as well

— Dib Taleb (@86Dib) June 29, 2023

If the dragons told Ben Hunt to pack his bags (like they should have) he would have been equally useful tonight sitting at home

— Matt (@xoDemize) June 29, 2023

Ben Hunt
Tries 0
Try assists 0
Tackle breaks 0
Line breaks 0
Line break assists 0

No wonder he wants to leave. The $1.2million halfback on his team is playing terribly. Poor Ben, he doesn’t deserve to play on a team with such a dud halfback

— Dave (@_stingray) June 29, 2023

It comes after Hunt’s request for an immediate request was knocked back by the Dragons earlier in the week.

Hunt spoke to ABC Sport after the game, saying: “Not good enough really … Where do we go from here? It seems like we’re getting worse … We can’t keep going down this path.”

Jack de Belin was also devastated by the loss.

“I’m bitterly disappointed, embarrassed … it’s just not good enough,” he told Channel 9.

“Especially after last week, we had a real point to prove.

“It’s super embarrassing.”

Arguably even worse was that the Dragons started well with both wingers scoring to give the visitors a 10-6 lead, but it was ugly viewing at times with some very soft efforts in defence which will keep them anchored to the foot of the table if there isn’t a circuit breaker soon.

After leading 10-6 after 20 minutes, the Dragons fell well off the pace as the Sharks piled on eight more tries to one to blow the under the pump Saints away.

Did Hynes just book spot in the Blues’ halves for Origin game III? Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

On the other side, Nicho Hynes put in timely reminder of his talents with State of Origin game III around the corner.

Hynes was devastated with his Origin debut when he struggled at right centre for all of 12 minutes at the end as the Maroons stormed home and was then overlooked for the trip north where the Blues were obliterated with the series on the line.

Hynes got the ball rolling for Cronulla when he strolled through a gap before he turned provider to lay on tries for Briton Nikora and Tom Hazelton in the first half.

He added another assist in the second half to set up Will Kennedy for his customary try at home, while he also nailed eight goals as the Sharks went on with the job for once.

He finished with 16 runs for 118m, a line break, three line break assists and three try assists in an excellent performance.

Originally published as Fans say same thing after Ben Hunt goes missing in record Sharks beat down