Dragons won’t offer Hunt new deal unless he starts next year with a bang

Shane Flanagan and the St George Illawarra Dragons have completely backflipped on the Ben Hunt situation after the veteran’s timid end to the 2024 NRL season, with the club now understood to be holding fire on any offered extensions.

This about-face comes after the Sydney Morning Herald reported Hunt had been blasted by Flanagan and assistant coach Dean Young in his end of season review on Thursday.

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The 34-year-old had been tabled an extension offer that would take him through to 2026 earlier this season, but after Hunt struggled to get the Dragons firing despite finals being in their own hands, Flanagan and Young have decided they may want to look elsewhere for their marshalling general at the heart of the Red V rebuild.

For the time being, it’s understood Hunt hasn’t requested another release yet.

The Sporting Base has heard, however, that the club is privately open to letting him leave as long as someone of similar quality comes through the door the other way. That could mean a halfback to replace the aging captain or a gun pickup for another needed position.

Either way, Flanagan is already quietly turning his attention to the halfback market, where big names like Sam Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans, Lachlan Ilias, and Tanah Boyd will all soon be free to talk to rival clubs.

Further afield, Jahrome Hughes, Connor Tracey, and Tyran Wishart become available in 2026.

Other reports suggest the club warned Hunt off from exploring options with other NRL clubs, though by the sounds of things within the club, there’s some willingness to let him and his $800,000 in 2025 go early if need be. This lines up with what Andrew Johns reported earlier this week, when he suggested Hunt was already preparing to leave.

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For now, all eyes at the Dragons are on how Hunt responds. If he lifts, a 2026 extension is on the table. If his head drops more, there’s every chance he may have played his last game for St George.