Furner, Griffin favourites to coach as Hunt shopped to Broncos

Ben Hunt could be shopped back to Broncos after an expensive three-year struggle at St George Illawarra.

Dragons hooker Ben Hunt could return to Brisbane

St George Illawarra is considering shopping utility star Ben Hunt back to Brisbane as Dean Young faces a tough battle to be named new Dragons head coach.

The Australian can reveal Saints may look to pay up to half of Hunt’s wage should he make a shock return to the Broncos from next season.

A key question in the possible shift would be whether Brisbane has the salary cap room the accommodate Hunt, even on a reduced contract.

There were suggestions the deal could be split evenly with both clubs paying $600,000 to cover Hunt’s annual $1.2m deal.

Hunt, who comes off contract after 2022, may look to marginally shave his mega-deal for the chance to return to Brisbane, where he has family. One source thinks a deal could even be struck where Saints pay $400,000 of a revised contract worth $1m a season.

While it would be significant money to be paying a player at a rival club, the move would give St George Illawarra an additional $400,000 to $600,000 in their salary cap.

Brisbane still has the money the club set aside for David Fifita, who joined Gold Coast, but may opt to sign a second-rower rather than a hooker-halfback.

Hunt would give Brisbane some much needed guidance and experience around the halves, an area where the club has struggled considerably this season.

Try as he has, Hunt’s form and ability has been constantly questioned since arriving at St George Illawarra on a $6m deal three years ago. Some in the game privately claim Hunt would benefit from a shift away from Sydney.

With salary cap pressure, the Dragons know they will send out essentially the same roster next season unless the club can move Hunt or Corey Norman. Whether Hunt leaves may also depend on who is appointed head coach from next season.

The Australian has been told two candidates – Anthony Griffin and David Furner – have strong support, both securing further interviews with the club later this week.

Furner is highly respected and has heavy support from the Illawarra side of the merger. He is also being courted by the Bulldogs about becoming Trent Barrett’s assistant coach.

Young may need to win several games over the remaining four rounds to convince Saints’ board is the man to lead the Red V.

There is a theory Young could even continue as an assistant under Griffin or Furner and then take over as head coach in two to three years.

Furner has enjoyed considerable success at each NRL club he has coached – Canberra, Souths, North Queensland and now at Newcastle. Griffin, the former Penrith and Brisbane coach has also much-needed support.

Warriors coach Todd Payten will this week be confirmed as North Queensland coach while Kevin Walters is ahead of Paul Green in the two-man battle to coach Brisbane.

Payten has done a remarkable job with the Warriors, who somehow remain in finals contention despite being inside a COVID bubble in a foreign country.

The Daily Telegraph