NRL 2023: Ben Hunt named in Dragons team to play Warriors in round 17

Disgruntled Dragons captain Ben Hunt has been named to lead the club against the Warriors as the NRL puts heat on the halfback’s management.

Ben Hunt has asked for a release. Picture: Getty

St George Illawarra will name disgruntled captain Ben Hunt when they announce their team this afternoon.

There has been widespread conjecture regarding Hunt since he formally asked for a release on Sunday.

Despite the uncertainty, the Dragons will name their captain to take on the Warriors in Wollongong on Friday night.

The club wants him to play depending how he recovers from Wednesday’s Origin. Hunt has not given any indication that he will make himself unavailable for the clash.

The news comes after the head of the NRL agent body has weighed into the Hunt stand-off, warning the St George Illawarra captain and his representatives that they could face sanction if they talk to rival clubs about signing elsewhere for next season.

This masthead understands that accreditation committee boss Paul Massey called Hunt’s agent Col Davis over the weekend to remind him of the game’s contracting rules, which forbid clubs inducing players or their agents to break contracts.

It is understood Massey also asked Davis to give Hunt a refresher on the rules. Davis confirmed he had received a phone call but declined to discuss the details of the conversation.

However, it is understood he pointed out that he was powerless to prevent clubs contacting him amid frenzied speculation that Hunt wants out of the Dragons, potentially before the August 7 deadline.

Hunt, in camp with the Queensland side for the second State of Origin game, has confirmed that he asked for release, having become frustrated with recent events at the Dragons.

Ben Hunt has asked for a release. Picture: Getty

After axing Hunt’s coaching ally Anthony Griffin, the club then missed out on their priority target Jason Ryles, who instead opted to return to the Melbourne Storm.

They landed on premiership winner Shane Flanagan, who has made it clear he wants to build the club around Hunt. That hasn’t stopped Hunt venting at recent events, prompting him to seek a release.

The Queensland hooker was the face of the club during a tumultuous period and the sense is that the conjecture over his own future has weighed him down to the point where he would like to explore his options for next season, if not earlier.

Hunt has been linked most prominently with a switch to the Bulldogs or Gold Coast, although both clubs would be in breach of the rules should they speak to Davis or Hunt about joining them next season without the permission of the Dragons.

Ben Hunt has been linked with a move to the Bulldogs or Titans.

Incoming coach Shane Flanagan is expected to hold further talks with Hunt once his Queensland commitments are completed, having already spoken publicly about his desire to keep the skipper at the club.

He is one of several unsettled players who Flanagan his expected to meet in coming weeks. It is understood he has already held talks with centre Zac Lomax, who was believed to be considering his future when Griffin was in charge.

Hunt has a further two years remaining on his $1.7 million deal with St George Illawarra and the club has no desire to let him leave. The NRL declined to comment on whether they had approached Hunt’s agent or were planning to investigate talk that clubs were circling the Dragons captain with a view to signing him next season.

However, they confirmed that under the game‘s contracting rules, neither the Dragons star, an agent or a club can negotiate a playing contract or negotiate for playing services for the years the player is currently under contract.

It is understood Shane Flanagan has already held talks with centre Zac Lomax. Picture: Getty Images

They reiterated that the only way that could happen was if the Dragons consented to his release. They could then grant permission for Hunt to negotiate right now to play elsewhere in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The Dragons have shown little interest in doing so. Chief executive Ryan Webb on Monday morning reiterated that the club had no plans to release their captain, either now or at the end of the season.

He also suggested the rules around player movement needed to be clarified and tightened up.

“It’s a tricky space. There’s rules there but they’re not black and white in this space,” Webb said.

“They can talk to other clubs as long as you don’t talk around those contracted years. So it’s frustrating that these things happen.

“That the game allows that and it’s probably something that needs to be tightened up.”