Hunt has asked for a release

[getsmarty]

Hunt is the one giving them ammo, this is a public forum mate, dont be dumb and make out like this is changing the narrative of the story. Pelican

Wow...you have been here a little over 1 week and you already start abusing people...Speaks volumes.

 

[KingFlanno7]

Wow...you have posted what 18 messages and you already start abusing people...Speaks volumes.

If thats abuse then you have lived a sheltered life bud

 

[getsmarty]

If thats abuse then you have lived a sheltered life bud

You know nothing about me...so don't make assumptions...

 

[KingFlanno7]

.

 

[KingFlanno7]

You know nothing about me...so don't make assumptions...

Sticks and stones mate toughen up

 

[Wizardman]

He clearly does not want to be there. Saints need to get the best deal they can for him and flick him off.

 

[TheRev]

Just going to have to suck up the 2023 media pain until Flanno gets the resolution he's after.. but with months of player holidays still to come, its going to be a very slow news cycle incoming.

Ben has been repeating the same message from the start.. i.e. im here for 2024 but want to go home.. but journos keep asking him.. and the fans keep clicking the articles and making these threads.. and so journos keep asking.. and around we go..

 

[56to66]

The media Love Childs are doing there best, there main objective is to see Ben Sook leave the Dragons!

 

[Nutz]

You'll all start loving each other again when Saints start winning.

 

[Illusion]

100% should not start the season , how can the players around him even want to play with him when he is saying its not his first choice club , and still wants out ........ TOXIC it will be if he stays on as captain ........

 

[Illusion]

100% should not start the season , how can the players around him even want to play with him when he is saying its not his first choice club , and still wants out ........ TOXIC it will be if he stays on as captain ........

 

[Spazer]

Nah, unless we can get a swap deal with another player of similar value, we can’t flick our best player with nothing in return and run with flanno and amone.

I’d definitely take the captaincy off him though.

 

[Parko1310]

Nah, unless we can get a swap deal with another player of similar value, we can’t flick our best player with nothing in return and run with flanno and amone.

I’d definitely take the captaincy off him though.

I'd try and take Fotuaika a year early off gold coast and give them Hunt in return. We simply can't have a captain who doesn't want to be here in my opinion. I agree don't let him go for nothing, but it's to the point now where we should get something done and I wouldn't let him train with the squad once his break is over until we've traded him. It's such a disruption and so disheartening when your oldest, best, most experienced player, and captain, wants to walk out on you because he doesn't believe in you. What an insult it is to young guys like Sloan, Amone, the Couchman's for example who would be thinking this guy doesn't think we've got it in us. How can you have a new coach come in presenting his vision, which we need everyone to buy into, yet the club captain himself has stated many times he won't buy into? It can't happen. We may need to go and buy another solid half yes, but at least in a Fotuaika trade a piece of the puzzle that I think is vital to our rebuild is brought in a year early. All we need is an organising halfback with a solid kicking game to fill Hunt's shoes, we don't need an out and out star. Think Hornby when we won the comp, he was no star half. Most of all we need people who want to be Dragon's, you can't have someone next to you on the field who you know won't or can't put their absolute best foot forward. Hunt can't do that even if he still wants to, because mentally, he's somewhere else.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Yes for me

Oct 2022 - Ben Hunt re-signs with Dragons until 2025

"It's a pleasing day for my family and I," Hunt said. "I am very happy we were able to come to an agreement as I always wanted to stay with the Dragons. I am excited by the direction the club is headed."

NOW
Hunt even considering retirement after admitting that staying with the Dragons was ‘not my first choice’.

(C) Hunt Career change advice (No charge)

Join a Circus! Get paid for two roles for which you are eminently qualified.

1. Gymnastics – specialising in unbelievable backflips.
2. CLOWN

No resume required.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

It’s time to move on.. sponsors think he is wanker, fans will boo him as he is acting like a peanut… he hasn’t got us to the finals in 6 years anyway. He plays best as a 9 in SOO. He is not a great 7. His money is needed for the rebuild.. goodbye

 

[Slippery Morris]

I am not sure why a club would want a guy who changes his mind about his club 6 months after re-signing? A guy that wants it his way or the highway. A guy that honestly believes he is bigger than the club. It's the club's fault for making him feel like he is bigger than the club I suppose giving him everything he wanted until he did not get 1 thing that being Hook extended.

Saints cannot release him now as they let go of Sullivan and there is no solid backup for Hunt. My only thought is to get Lachlan Lam back from England. He is probably the best of the halves over there and will be much cheaper. There is also a guy names Dean Hawkins at Souths. 2 years in a row halfback of the year in NSW Cup and looking for an NRL chance. Currently stuck behind Ilias who the coach will not move from the No.7 as he has invested too much time to let him fail and sees him as the best half in the club.

Flanno was looking at Ezra Mam so he definitley wants a big fish in the halves. Hopefully he can land one and pi$$ off Hunt.

 

[Walpole]

According to Zero Tackle, Pat Carrigan is on 800K at the Broncos. Straight swap for our Benny seems fair.

 

[possm]

Hunt is a money-hungry sook:
Select him at hooker.
Heavily fine him each time he opens his gob.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I think releasing him would be a foolish thing for the Dragons to do. I can understand the angst his comments are causing for Dragons fans, but to me, that is what he is wanting so that, due to fans not being happy the Board give into his demands and release him.

That would just show every player that if you persist in making those type of demands, the Dragons hierarchy will cave in.

Now there are a few ways this could be resolved.

Option 1: Go hard line and tell him if he wants to retire, go ahead. Call his bluff. He probably won't get paid if he does, and also the NRL would be unlikely to register any new contract if he then "miraculously" un-retired and signed with another NRL club.

Option 2: Hard line, but less public. Keep him and send him down to NSW Cup. Tell him it is for disciplinary reasons due to his public comments, which is undermining squad harmony. Just because he is reputedly amongst the club's highest paid players does not mean he gets a free pass.

Option 3: Tell him they will let him go, provided the club that wants to sign him is will to offer a compensation package that meets its demands (e.g. a good couple of up and coming players or a star player).

I personally think those are amongst the likely best options for your club.

 

[Victoire]

I think releasing him would be a foolish thing for the Dragons to do. I can understand the angst his comments are causing for Dragons fans, but to me, that is what he is wanting so that, due to fans not being happy the Board give into his demands and release him.

That would just show every player that if you persist in making those type of demands, the Dragons hierarchy will cave in.

Now there are a few ways this could be resolved.

Option 1: Go hard line and tell him if he wants to retire, go ahead. Call his bluff. He probably won't get paid if he does, and also the NRL would be unlikely to register any new contract if he then "miraculously" un-retired and signed with another NRL club.

Option 2: Hard line, but less public. Keep him and send him down to NSW Cup. Tell him it is for disciplinary reasons due to his public comments. which is undermining squad harmony. just because he is reputedly amongst the club's highest paid players does not mean he gets a free pass.

Option 3: Tell him they will let him go, provided the club that wants to sign him is will to offer a compensation package that meets its demands (e.g. a good couple of up and coming players or a star player).

I personally think those are amongst the likely best options for your club.

They're obviously going with number 3 here.

As much as the fans are annoyed (nay infuriated) by Hunt's comments, Flanagan is taking every chance with his media gigs to pump out positive PR in response to it. Getting a suitable swap package for Hunt is the only reason to release him regardless of what he says, and I think Flanagan knows that until we get that deal we're better off keeping Hunt in the side.