By Danny Weidler and Dan Walsh
Outgoing Dragons skipper Ben Hunt has revealed he did not hear from head coach Shane Flanagan during his exit from the club, nor since, as he admitted a possible return to his childhood club Brisbane “would be pretty special”.
Hunt’s acrimonious exit from St George Illawarra has made him the hottest property on the player market, with the Dolphins and Broncos having already approached his management regarding an immediate move back to Queensland.
Speaking for the first time since being granted an immediate release and walking away from his $900,000-a-year contract, Hunt said the situation at the Dragons had become so dire that he admitted he did not want to return to training with club.
While Hunt did not hear from Flanagan at the end, he said he never had a major issue with the coach. But given Flanagan’s silence it now seems there could be a problem.
“My final conversations with the club were with [CEO] Ryan Webb and [general manager of football] Ben Haran,” Hunt said when asked about the role Flanagan played in his departure.
“I haven’t heard from Shane and I guess that says something about where things are at, but I didn’t have a drama. It got to the point where something had to happen, and it’s true. I didn’t want to go back and train with the club in the pre-season.
Ben Hunt and the Dragons have agreed to a mutual termination of the rep star’s contract. Credit: Getty Images
“I knew my time was done. I feel relieved now that it’s over. I certainly feel like I put in for the club and contributed as much as I could. I was very invested and I think I played my best footy for the Dragons, and I don’t agree with the idea that I was never invested in my time at the Dragons.”
“I gave my all for the club and I hope that people can see that. It’s not how I wanted things to end, but that’s how it happened and now I’ve got the opportunity to further my career in coming weeks.”
Hunt said he has not spoken to any prospective clubs from Kangaroos camp, but both he and Broncos star Pat Carrigan acknowledged the romantic, full-circle nature of a move back to Brisbane if he can be accommodated under the club’s salary cap.
The key to the Broncos making a move for their former star halfback is the fate of Ezra Mam, who is awaiting the results of a police inquiry into a car accident he was involved in last month.
Embattled Broncos player Ezra Mam.Credit: Getty Images
Mam has not been charged by police, but Brisbane are preparing for their livewire No.6 to be unavailable at the beginning of next season, prompting them to approach Hunt’s management.
Hunt’s ability to play hooker offers the prospect of both playmakers eventually fitting into new coach Michael Maguire’s spine, while the futures of off-contract star centres Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs would also enter the equation given the big earners already on the Broncos books.
“Brisbane will always have a soft spot for me,” said Hunt, who added that he was also willing to remain in Sydney given the reported interest of Canterbury and the Roosters.
“I have been involved in the [Broncos] since I was 12. They put a lot of work into me, and if I had the opportunity to go finish there it would be pretty special. But I’ve got to see if that can all work.
“The biggest priority is just wanting to enjoy my footy and going somewhere we can win a competition. I am at the back end of my career and only have a few years left. I would really love the opportunity to go to a team that I think can win one.”
Carrigan, who looms as Brisbane’s next captain once Adam Reynolds retires, was emphatic in backing any bid for Hunt by new coach Michael Maguire.
“Knowing Benny personally, I was a young pup when I went to the club as a 15 or 16-year-old and he was around the place,” Carrigan said. “You said the word romantic, it would be awesome to have him back at the club.
’Benny is a leader and his stature in the game, playing the representative footy he has, [he is] still doing it week-in, week-out and can do it in a number of positions, which is important for any club.”
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