Incoming St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has revealed particulars of the “positive” assembly he had with Ben Hunt and the Dragons brass.
It was in that Monday morning assembly that Hunt was in a position to air his grievances and frustrations with the path of the Dragons earlier than being advised by the membership they’d not be granting his request for a mid-season launch.
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Flanagan mentioned he understood Hunt’s place, however after the 90-minute assembly, the previous Sharks coach thinks the possibilities of the star playmaker staying within the Red V have elevated.
“It was a real positive meeting from the club’s perspective and hopefully from Ben,’’ Flanagan told 2GB.
“There was a lot of frustration from Ben and you look at the competition table and you can understand where the frustration comes from.
“Ben’s a winner, he wants the club to do well and he’s been frustrated over the last couple of years. Obviously he lost a person that was close to him in Anthony Griffin (former Dragons coach) as a mentor, which affected Ben.
“He had some frustrations that he pointed out to the club and both of us walked out of there pretty positive.
“Ben said he had some concerns about the club moving forward and some issues in the past and we addressed those today.”
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Hunt will line up and stay as captain for this Thursday’s conflict in opposition to the Sharks with Flanagan believing the Queensland and Australia consultant all the time wished to play in the course of the contract stand-off whereas he was nonetheless on the Dragons.
“Ben’s priorities are his teammates. He was clear on wanting to play this week,” Flanagan mentioned.
“He wanted to go to training today and I was really impressed by his approach today.
“I see him as a big part of what we’re going to do next year. I thought today was really productive.”
Flanagan’s feedback come as The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel confirmed Hunt could be a Brisbane Bronco had the Dragons fulfilled the 33-year-old’s want to be launched from his contract a year-and-a-half early.
Badel mentioned the Broncos are “dead keen” to have Hunt again at Red Hill – the place he started his NRL profession and spent 9 years at.
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“I can tell you emphatically, it was 100 per cent accurate that the Broncos are interested, it’s now all dependent on what the Dragons do,” Badel mentioned on SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“Obviously we heard that the Dragons are digging their heels in and won’t let release Hunt, as they’re entitled to do because he’s under contract.
“If the Dragons eventually agree to finally, reluctantly let him go, he will be at the Broncos for the rest of the season.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au