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Hunt has asked for a release

SHOULD BEN HUNT BE MOVED ON BEFORE THE 2024 SEASON?

  • Yes

    Votes: 20 95.2%
  • No

    Votes: 1 4.8%

  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .

TruSaint

Referee
Messages
20,844
Hmmm...
It may well happen tomorrow..

NRL 2023: Gold Coast Titans close in on Ben Hunt after latest ruthless move​

He was pencilled in as the club’s long-term playmaker in last season’s review, but Gold Coast’s relentless pursuit of Ben Hunt is set to force the prodigious talent out of the club.
Peter Badel and Travis Meyn

2 min read
June 25, 2023 - 2:44PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://archive.md/Q2ven#share-tools

NRL: Fox League's Michael Ennis talks through the Ben Hunt and Dragons situation after he demanded to leave the club for a premiership contender.

Titans wonder boy Toby Sexton has been told he can leave the club as the Gold Coast free up salary cap space to make a big-money play for Ben Hunt.

This masthead can reveal promising playmaker Sexton has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs in a move that suggests the Titans are planning to enter the bidding war for Hunt’s services.
Hunt will hold crisis talks with incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan on Monday, but the Maroons Origin star has made it clear he wants out of the Red V to return home to Queensland for family reasons.

That opens the door for the Titans, who last month registered fresh interest in Hunt with his management team after first being linked with the Dragons skipper last year.
Sexton - the Titans’ Chosen One just 12 months ago - shapes as collateral damage in the Hunt saga.

The 22-year-old was last year viewed internally as Gold Coast’s next great playmaker and the Titans were so confident in Sexton’s ability to run the show the club offloaded co-captain Jamal
Toby Sexton has been told he can look for another club as the Titans ramp up pursuit of Ben Hunt.

But after 19 games, Sexton was dropped at the back end of last season and has barely been sighted in the NRL since after losing the Titans’ No.7 jumper this year to Tanah Boyd.
The former Australian Schoolboy is on $500,000 next season and those funds could be re-directed towards Hunt if the Titans can offload Sexton to another NRL rival.
Currently languishing in Queensland Cup, Sexton is contracted until the end of 2024, but the

Titans will not stand in the way of the halfback or five-eighth if he can find another club.
Sexton has played just one NRL game this season, setting up the winning try in the Titans’ 20-18 victory against, ironically, Hunt’s Dragons.
Sexton was linked with the Dolphins during their scrumbase injury crisis earlier this season, but coach Wayne Bennett is putting faith in halves Sean O’Sullivan, Isaiya Katoa and Anthony Milford.

Last month, Sexton said he had not given up hope of unseating Boyd from the Titans No.7 jumper.

“I don’t really know anything else but the Gold Coast,” he said.
“Last year was a pretty tough year, I’ve been through the wringer in a way.
“I was a little bit disappointed (to be overlooked for the halfback spot). I want to be playing NRL, especially after last year.
“I’ve got so much drive for the club. I’ve still got another year-and-a-half here and I’m fully committed to the club. I want to bring success here.
“It’s a long journey but the boys are working hard towards it. Any way I can add value, I want to be there.
“All I can control is playing good footy.”

It is understood the Titans are prepared to pay around $900,000 a season to lure Hunt to the Glitter Strip.
The 34-year-old is eyeing a four-month cameo with the Broncos this season, but Brisbane cannot afford Hunt long-term, putting the Titans in the box seat to secure the Test star for 2024 and beyond.

 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,106
100% and further after compensation no new club untill at least next year...otherwise the wealthier clubs with salary space will pay compensation but still poach players near season end to strengthen their finals aspirations....just like the Donkeys this year if its allowed to happen

Correct...exactly what Andrew johns stated today..fittler and slater disagreed... join the dots.
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,106
Organisations that ‘fume’ when they receive an audit enquiry invariably have something to hide. Otherwise, a simple letter in reply would suffice, wouldn’t it!

Exactly...as the journos on the Footy show stated..no way he hasn't got something lined up...

Club needs to take a firm stand...They stated we release him to the donkeys and we get nothing from titans...

Absolute rubbish...Andrew johns said they have something like 15 rep players already... how do they get to take a marquee player from a struggling club ( Yes ...it's hurts to say that..but its the truth. )

P.S I think dump him to nsw cup for the rest of this year or tell him he can go..but not able to play with anyone til 24 and we get player compensation from the titans...and not just Sexton...a REP Player.
 
Last edited:

thebigredv

First Grade
Messages
5,407
Apart from anyone that grew up in Wollongong, does anyone decent actually want to come play for St George and have to live in Wollongong? We’ve become one of those shit regional teams that are just making up the numbers
Crosses my mind as well. There seems to be a preference of players to be in a one town team, not that the Gong is not an attractive place to live.

One thing that can transcend this is a really impactful coach who can instill a culture of success and happiness a la Penrith. Then the players will be happy wherever they are. For a bit Mary had this happening and players were on the happy bus literally until they realised he couldn't coach. Flanagan has a bit of that positive influence about him in theory at least. I hope he wipes us clean of 90% of our players. Bunch of softies. Really can't wait to see the backs of them.
 

Blood Shot Eyes

First Grade
Messages
6,323
If they release him immediately to finish this season with Broncos, we have no rights to ask for any compensation, players or transfer fee from the Titans for the next 2 years if he signs there. He will be a free agent for 2024 - 25.
Can't let that happen. Either refuse the release and let him move back to Queensland but not playing for any other club. Only going to cost us the last quarter of his yearly contract. Then if he wants to sign with Titans or anyone else for the next 2 years, we can agree to release him for a player swap and/or transfer fee.
Surely our mob wouldnt be naive and stupid enough to let him go to the Donkeys this year which would supposibly negate our compensation dealings with the Titans.......I know theres a Ringling Bros & Barnam and Bailey Circus sign hanging above our Board Room door but it would defy belief if they let it just happen......even the not so brightest lawyers wouldnt agree to those conditions during negotiations would they ????

I repeat as I said on here yesterday if Hunt likes the Queensland weather so much just let him go and sit this season out in the Brisbane sunshine till Feb 2024
 

Ghostrider22

Juniors
Messages
559
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer…I hate this f**king sport
I know what your saying, but jeez we have a fu#king Billionaire owns the club and his son is on the board and they do Fu@k All. What do think Russell and Uncle Nick do, they don’t fu$k around they are making sure they are winners. That’s the difference between us and them.
 

Dragon David

First Grade
Messages
9,223
So playing 9 for the Broncs is OK when you held us to ransom for so long. It broke my heart at the Gong watching you run out in that jersey let alone captain of the side, made me sick. It was without a doubt one of the worst days in the history of the Dragons, Flanno needs to make all the harsh calls, nothing else will work. For this once mighty club to be played the way it has been over the last few weeks is a disgusting act.
We have definitely been played. We get touched up too often. We had Ryles almost ready to sign but he turned his back on us (thank goodness) and lots were laughing at us then. Now we have the Benny circus and we are the sooks and clowns that many are again laughing at us.

I am hoping that one day, we can turn everything around and say to everyone laughing at us to get nicked.

Hunt is a jinx. Let him see again that he is when he plays for the Broncos and then the Titans - although I must say that the Titans will be a formidable team over the next few years with Hasler at the helm. They have a really solid squad of players and some depth.
 

dungay dragon

Juniors
Messages
1,332
We have definitely been played. We get touched up too often. We had Ryles almost ready to sign but he turned his back on us (thank goodness) and lots were laughing at us then. Now we have the Benny circus and we are the sooks and clowns that many are again laughing at us.

I am hoping that one day, we can turn everything around and say to everyone laughing at us to get nicked.

Hunt is a jinx. Let him see again that he is when he plays for the Broncos and then the Titans - although I must say that the Titans will be a formidable team over the next few years with Hasler at the helm. They have a really solid squad of players and some depth.
None of this can happen Dave unless WE sign off on it
 

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