Ben Hunt’s Dragons future locked in after meeting with Shane Flanagan

Wantaway Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has learned his fate after a meeting with incoming coach Shane Flanagan in 2024.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Ben Hunt of the Dragons reacts after Tyrell Sloan of the Dragons was sent to the sin bin during the round 21 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium on July 20, 2023 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Wantaway Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has now reportedly resigned to the fact he will play under Shane Flanagan in 2024.

However, according to the SMH, the 33-year-old will now try and force an exit ahead of the 2025 season in his hunt for a premiership.

Hunt has reportedly been informed the Dragons will be making a number of big signings under their new coach.

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He is sweating on the arrivals, with the club being linked to both Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii in recent weeks.

Manu will be free to negotiate with rivals come November 1, while Suaalii only has one year remaining in the NRL before he joins Rugby Australia on a mammoth contract.

Ben Hunt is stuck with the Dragons. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

After sitting down with his manager Col Davis, it reportedly became clear to the experienced halfback he won’t be able to leave the club.

Both the Broncos and Titans were reportedly interested in his services if he was to be granted a release from his contract.

Now Flanagan will be tasked with getting the best out of Hunt, who earlier this season told the club he wanted out.

While the halfback may be angling for a move in 2025, the release of young gun Jayden Sullivan complicated a potential move, being his obvious replacement.

Flanagan has previously revealed that Hunt will be at the club for the 2024 season.

“Ben will be there next year, I’ve spoken to Ben and I think we’ve sort of put that to bed and he’ll be at the club next year,” Flanagan said on 2GB.

“I met with him before the game, I put my coach’s hat on with him and said to him ‘Ben, as the coach I’m not letting you go, you’re my captain, you’re my halfback, I’m not letting you go and I’ve got the support of the club there, they don’t want you to go’.

“We had that discussion, he said ‘I understand Flanno, I understand completely’ ... the conversation went on and we started to talk about next year.”

Originally published as Ben Hunt’s Dragons future locked in after meeting with Shane Flanagan