UPDATE: Dragons captain Ben Hunt is seeking an immediate release from the club, with head coach Shane Flanagan still holding out hope of a backflip from his star man.
Rumours of a Hunt exit had been rife in the weeks leading up to Flanagan’s appointment as the full-time replacement for the sacked Anthony Griffin. Flanagan, the 2016 premiership winning coach, met with Hunt prior to his appointment being made official.
According to 9News Sydney’s Danny Weidler, Hunt, 32, remains unsettled and has “confided in his inner circle” about his desire to leave the club.
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Weidler confirmed that Hunt wanted an immediate release from his contract, but whether the Dragons grant him his wish remains to be seen.
“Ben Hunt has had enough at the Dragons,” he told 9News Sydney.
“His manager rang the club today to say his client wants out of the remainder of his contract.”
Weilder said the Gold Coast Titans are the early favourite to secure Hunt’s signature, while Bulldogs GM Phil Gould is believed to be keen on luring Hunt to Belmore, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The shock report came just hours after Flanagan said he would not let his captain break his contract early to join a rival club.
“Well, from a club’s perspective Ben Hunt will be there,” Flanagan told 2GB’s The Continuous Call Team on Saturday.
Hunt’s future still not certain
“He’s got a contract, I spoke to Ben before I actually signed because I didn’t want to obviously become the Dragons coach and then our halfback wanting out of the club, and he was fine with all that if I was to get the job.
“He’s in Origin camp at the moment obviously, and I’m not going to worry him while he’s in there, I’ll get to him next week and I’m sure that’s okay.
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“But from the club’s perspective, he’s our captain, he’s our halfback and we need him, I won’t be letting him go anywhere.”
Hunt has played 116 games for the Dragons since joining the club from the Broncos for the start of the 2018 season.
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