‘It's disgraceful’: Paul Crawley calls for NRL act on Ben Hunt release drama

The NRL has been called on to investigate Ben Hunt’s contract release bombshell, which threatens the to make the game a joke.

Ben Hunt with the drive-by bombshell. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley has blasted Ben Hunt’s release request from the Dragons, calling for the NRL to act to save the integrity of the game’s contract system and salary cap.

While the old joke around NRL contracts is that they’re hardly worth the paper they’re written on as deals have regularly been broken over the years, Hunt’s request has dragged the issue back into the spotlight.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

With reports the Bulldogs, Titans and Roosters are all early contenders, despite the Dragons refusing to let Hunt go, Crawley called for St George Illawarra to play hard ball.

“I think it’s disgraceful,” Crawley began.

“The contract system in rugby league has become farcical over recent years.

“Gordie (NRL 360 co-host Tallis), I probably go back to when you were stood down by the Dragons in 1996.

“Since Super League, things have changed and at that time, the Dragons took a stand and they made you sit out a season.

“I would love to see the Dragons in this instance play hardball with Ben Hunt. And I wouldn’t allow him to get a release just because he wants one.

“I think there’s a bigger issue here. The NRL bang on about a lot of things. They bang on about player behaviour — they’re quick to take action any time a player stands out of line. But in this instance … I reckon this issue upsets the fans as much as anything.

“You’ve got an NRL club captain, midway through an Origin series confirming that he wants a release from the club.

“I don’t care how bad the Dragons have been run in recent times. What he’s doing now is the worst of it.”

Hunt is in Queensland camp. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

David Riccio hit back, questioning what Hunt could expect to go back to in the change room when his teammates know he doesn’t want to be there.

Crawley replied: “That is why this is such a line in the sand moment because we haven’t seen a captain do it before. We haven’t seen a captain walk in mid season and say this to his teammates, say this to his fans that he doesn’t want to be at the club.

“I’ll tell you what else annoys me about it — Ben Hunt is on $1 million a year. And there are conversations going around that he’s talking to the Bulldogs, the Titans are interested, the Roosters are interested. Yet the rules exist that you’re not allowed to talk about a contract that’s existing. You can talk beyond the deal, but not during the deal.

“So if Ben Hunt ends up leaving and picks up a deal somewhere else in the very near future, I would love to see the NRL go out and investigate it. Look at phone records, look at the email track and find out what the hell’s gone on. Because you’re talking about the credibility of the contract system and the salary cap.”

Riccio said Ben Hunt had “held his side of the bargain up … every time he plays.”

“I haven’t seen management hold their end of the bargain up,” Riccio added.

Paul Crawley and Dave Riccio went at it over Ben Hunt. Photo: Fox Sports

He pointed to the week of Hunt’s 300th game when management didn’t turn up to a dinner in their captain’s honour.

He also said that the management had rung Hunt on the day of Origin I to tell him that they didn’t know who the coach would be after Jason Ryles turned them down. The Dragons have since signed Shane Flanagan for next season.

Riccio said the Dragons had “treated him with disrespect”.

Crawley said that Hunt had signed a two-year contract extension in October last year, despite a clause that tied him to former coach Anthony Griffin being rejected.

“At that point, if he didn’t want to sign that contract, he didn’t have to sign that contract,” Crawley said.

“He’s still got two years beyond this on his deal — he should not be asking for a release, under no circumstances.”

Riccio replied: “Management have a lot to answer for, because they haven’t delivered on their ambition, their motivation, their promise — it’s a basket case.”

Hunt has undoubtedly been the Dragons best. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Crawley: “Last October, we knew they were a basket case when he resigned his new deal.”

Dragons management flatly refused Hunt’s request over the weekend.

But it’s a potentially awkward situation on Friday night with Hunt named to play for the Red V against the Warriors.

Riccio said it sets up the proposition of Hunt being booed by his own fans, while Crawley said it would be ridiculous for the Dragons not to expect their $1m a season player to play.

When the discussion shifted to where he’d end up, Crawley said: “If he does leave, I hope he doesn’t play in the NRL — I hope he goes to England. I truly do. I’ll maintain, he’s got a contract.

“I believe if he won’t see out his contract, he should not be registered with another club until that deal has expired.”