The Bulldogs are reportedly chasing Ben Hunt’s signature with telephones “running hot” following the departure of maligned coach Anthony Griffin.
Hunt and Griffin’s shut relationship was properly publicised and query marks now encompass the gun halfback’s future on the Red V membership.
Dragons chief government Ryan Webb was requested if he can assure Hunt would stay on the Dragons past 2023 on Tuesday night time.
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“Yeah, I think I can. Ben had a really strong relationship with Anthony, I can’t deny that. But Ben is also a competitor and he wants to win,” he stated.
Now in response to Fox League’s James Hooper, Hunt could possibly be the “missing” piece of the Bulldogs’ puzzle and expects supremo Phil Gould to make a play.
“There’s definitely legs to this story, we know Gus went and sat down with Ben when he was off-contract at the end of last season,” Hooper stated on NRL360 on Wednesday night time.
“There’s no question the phones have been running hot off the back of Anthony Griffin being sacked, we all know the close bond he and Hook had.
“There’s one piece of the Bulldogs jigsaw puzzle that is missing. Gus has gone out and got the young gun coach, got the other superstar players and Burton has signed long term.
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“They need a halfback and this bloke fits the bill.
“At 33 years of age, 34 in January, he could turn that side in to a top four team.”
As it stands Jason Ryles is the red-hot favorite to take over the Dragons in 2024.
Hooper believes that if the present Roosters assistant desires to shift Hunt to dummy-half, regardless of his success within the position at consultant degree, he’ll request a launch.
The 33-year-old has been utilised at hooker for the Maroons in recent times and likewise began at dummy-half for the Kangaroos within the World Cup ultimate.
“If Ryles wants to shift him to dummy-half, if he thinks it is his best position… that will be a red flag,” Hooper stated.
“That will be, in my view, all she wrote at the Red V. He will ask for a release, he sees himself as an NRL halfback.”
Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carrayannis defined the Dragons’ teaching determination is about to have an effect on Hunt’s future.
He additionally believes if the brand new coach desires to shift Hunt to hooker — he could possibly be on the “chopping block”.
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“At the moment they are going to wait and see who the new coach is, and the coach may have grand plans for him and think he is the No.7 and keep him there and be happy,” Carayannis stated.
“But if the conversation comes, they say ‘I think we want to try Amone and Sullivan, we are going to push you to dummy-half, we don’t feel like a dummy-half is worth a million dollars’.
“Then Ben Hunt could be on the chopping block, I exchanged some text messages with him today and he said he wanted to get through the game this week before he came out and spoke about everything.
“He’s a key component of what the future may be at the Dragons, but there’s no doubt the Bulldogs would love him, Canberra need a half.
“There’s a lot of sides who need an established half so Ben Hunt won’t struggle finding a club even if it is later in the season.”
“They cannot afford to lose him,” league legend Gorden Tallis added.
“There’s no doubt that if I am coaching the Dragons, I need Ben if I am going to turn it around.
“I think the Bulldogs would love him, I think Ben Hunt is one of our greatest competitors… he just competes.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au