Hunt has asked for a release

[Victoire]

imo.. good on him for recognising that he could've done things differently and expressing his regret.

 

[This Year?]

Ben needs to let his footy do the talking instead of to the media.
Hopefully there's more leadership in the team now so then it's less about Ben and more about the team.

 

[Jersey No 14]

He has said he handled the situation wrong.
I accept that revelation- even though it was blatantly obvious.
right moving forward- I want to see a man leading our team. That means no bottom lip when things (and they will) go pear shaped.
I understand family but he has a sign contract for 25 - and I believe that should be obligated.
Unless we get a better than a like-for-like.
one season before retirement should be obligated without question.
staring the wooden spoon in the face I want to see the values of St. George rise above any negativity
Because- we will need named players in the red v come 2025. These current players are crucial for distant success - and that means discipline.
and that means being lead by a man.
I’ll be in the hill Saturday and in the stands during the season.
Let the games begin- come Saturday

 

[justadragon]

We have an extremely young squad with more juniors on the way. They need to be led by a more than capable captain and strong person as in individual personal qualities. Its about time Ben cuts the bullshit and gets on with leading our future to where it rightly should be.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

This was pleasing to see....Must be that talk Tubby had with the players about leadership. We really need this guy to be fully committed to have any success and it looks like he may have turned the corner.

‘There’s regrets’: Ben Hunt comes clean on Dragons contract standoff

‘If I could take the time back...’: Hunt’s big admission over Dragons contract standoff

www.foxsports.com.au

‘There’s regrets’: Ben Hunt comes clean on Dragons contract standoff​

St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has revealed he has some regrets over his contract standoff with the club.
The 33-year-old 312-game NRL veteran was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2023.
The Dragons have been the NRL’s big underachievers over the past five years, missing the final every season, with 2023’s 16th place finish the worst in the current horror run.

In fact, since the club’s 2010 premiership, the Dragons have made the finals just three times (2011, 2015 and 2018).
Having joined the club in 2018, it means Hunt has made the finals just once in his time at the club.
And it all came to a head in 2023 when coach and close friend Anthony Griffin was fired, leading to Hunt to call for a release, just eight months after signing a contract extension until the end of the 2025 season.
Speaking to Nine News, Hunt admitted the pressure got too much.
“I probably made it known pretty loud last year that it was getting pretty frustrating,” Hunt said.
“There’s regrets about parts of it. In a way, I’m happy that some things came to a head but it definitely could have been handled better, that’s for sure. It’s been a long couple of years and it sort of compounded into a few little things that sort of ticked it off at the end.
“If I could take the time back, I would do it differently.”
The Dragons captain sparked a firestorm when he formally asked the club for a release after former coach Anthony Griffin was fired last May.

While former premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan was named the club’s new coach for 2024, it wasn’t enough to appease Hunt, who began angling for a release ahead of the second State of Origin clash.

But the Dragons stood firm, refusing to allow their marquee player leave despite his clear and publicly vocal displeasure at the club.

Hunt had signed an extension only eight months before the contract saga began.
Hunt declared at the time that he wanted to return to Queensland.

“I’d like to come home. That’s what we’d like to do. It’s for family reasons. There’s a whole lot more to it — other things — but that’s the main reason,” Hunt said.

But still the Dragons stood firm and Hunt eventually confirmed he’d stay at the club for the 2024 season.

However, it didn’t convince many as the belief was that he’d try and force an exit after the 2024 season as he chases a premiership.
Hunt has been saying all the right things ahead of the 2024 season so far.
Speaking with Fox Sports News, Hunt said he was pleased with the direction Flanagan was taking the team.

“The conversations I’ve had with him (Flanagan), [2024] is going to be a team built on hard work and discipline and competing right to the final whistle,” Hunt said.

“He believes over the past few years there have been a lot of guys who haven’t really fought for that extra inch and he wants to be a team who can grind teams out and really fight right to the death.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do to get to that point, but it’s exciting.”

One issue that may bubble away under the surface is that Flanagan has already told Dragons fans to temper expectations ahead of the new season, saying “our real focus will be 25-26”.

Yeah I read this too when it came out as well.

He says he regrets how it was handled, and if he could turn back time he would.

So wishy washy, virtue signaling and cowardly in his expression.

What he should have done is fully apologise for running the club down in the way he did to anyone who would listen.

It was disgusting, ungrateful, humiliating and embarrassing to every SGI fan and member. Even us Tiger fans were sickened by his selfish arrogant ramblings.

Then he finds out the club is not going to surrender and release him and all of a suddenly, low and behold, he’s Flanno all the way.

And he’s in joyful raptures about the Flanno 80 minute requirement, which when you think about it, is a concession by him that this wasn’t a feature under previous coaches ( his old hero’s).

My theory is that Flanno, Webby and the board, toughened up, showed some courage and told him to suck eggs (on his contract) and denied him his wishes.

He’s a leach and a coward for not apologising directly, not taking responsibility and for stealing precious DNA from SGI by running it down.

He’s not playing for SGI, he’s only pretending to play for SGI. Little creep.

 

[BLM01]

This was pleasing to see....Must be that talk Tubby had with the players about leadership. We really need this guy to be fully committed to have any success and it looks like he may have turned the corner.

‘There’s regrets’: Ben Hunt comes clean on Dragons contract standoff

‘If I could take the time back...’: Hunt’s big admission over Dragons contract standoff

www.foxsports.com.au

‘There’s regrets’: Ben Hunt comes clean on Dragons contract standoff​

St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has revealed he has some regrets over his contract standoff with the club.
The 33-year-old 312-game NRL veteran was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2023.
The Dragons have been the NRL’s big underachievers over the past five years, missing the final every season, with 2023’s 16th place finish the worst in the current horror run.

In fact, since the club’s 2010 premiership, the Dragons have made the finals just three times (2011, 2015 and 2018).
Having joined the club in 2018, it means Hunt has made the finals just once in his time at the club.
And it all came to a head in 2023 when coach and close friend Anthony Griffin was fired, leading to Hunt to call for a release, just eight months after signing a contract extension until the end of the 2025 season.
Speaking to Nine News, Hunt admitted the pressure got too much.
“I probably made it known pretty loud last year that it was getting pretty frustrating,” Hunt said.
“There’s regrets about parts of it. In a way, I’m happy that some things came to a head but it definitely could have been handled better, that’s for sure. It’s been a long couple of years and it sort of compounded into a few little things that sort of ticked it off at the end.
“If I could take the time back, I would do it differently.”
The Dragons captain sparked a firestorm when he formally asked the club for a release after former coach Anthony Griffin was fired last May.

While former premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan was named the club’s new coach for 2024, it wasn’t enough to appease Hunt, who began angling for a release ahead of the second State of Origin clash.

But the Dragons stood firm, refusing to allow their marquee player leave despite his clear and publicly vocal displeasure at the club.

Hunt had signed an extension only eight months before the contract saga began.
Hunt declared at the time that he wanted to return to Queensland.

“I’d like to come home. That’s what we’d like to do. It’s for family reasons. There’s a whole lot more to it — other things — but that’s the main reason,” Hunt said.

But still the Dragons stood firm and Hunt eventually confirmed he’d stay at the club for the 2024 season.

However, it didn’t convince many as the belief was that he’d try and force an exit after the 2024 season as he chases a premiership.
Hunt has been saying all the right things ahead of the 2024 season so far.
Speaking with Fox Sports News, Hunt said he was pleased with the direction Flanagan was taking the team.

“The conversations I’ve had with him (Flanagan), [2024] is going to be a team built on hard work and discipline and competing right to the final whistle,” Hunt said.

“He believes over the past few years there have been a lot of guys who haven’t really fought for that extra inch and he wants to be a team who can grind teams out and really fight right to the death.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do to get to that point, but it’s exciting.”

One issue that may bubble away under the surface is that Flanagan has already told Dragons fans to temper expectations ahead of the new season, saying “our real focus will be 25-26”.

I dont think Ben had any choice but to put the tail between his legs and say the right things now. He did not get his way and it has tarnished his image as a leader and captain in my opinion but not as a player

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

He’s no longer respected as a person and whatever he’s done in his career he will always be remembered as a selfish little mutt faced prick who didn’t get his own way.

Now he’s stuck with a fan base who by and large, don’t trust or like him. The rest of the league will cheer to see him get injured.

His big cunning plan to take SGI for a ride backfired badly.

He’s basically there to help other players, no one cares less what happens to him as a person.

There can never be a 100% solid SGI cheer with bunted mutt-face on the park.
I know a good removalist who would make sure he never saw his stuff again.

He can’t even apologise because he’s a coward. I used to like him, always stuck up for him. Now he’s a low gutted dog.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Dear Ben,

After causing so much grief, your admission leaves me speechless.

It’s impossible to respond appropriately.

So, I won't.

 

[since77]

I dont think Ben had any choice but to put the tail between his legs and say the right things now. He did not get his way and it has tarnished his image as a leader and captain in my opinion but not as a player

I'll happily forgive him if he wins us a premiership.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I'll happily forgive him if he wins us a premiership.

Giving that some thought, what he should do is show some DNA and take a pay cut.

Express his sorrow for his conduct and bringing the club into disrepute through his wallet. A self-fine.

He can do a press conference:

“ I have heard the voice of the people, and have asked the club to cut my salary, to $290k effective immediately.”

“ I have also offered to re-sign until 2027 on the same deal, but they have advised my agent, they are thinking about it.”

“ I pray this small sacrifice will somehow enamour me to the rank and file, particularly the kids to whom I have set a bad example to.”

“ I am deeply sorry and ashamed for my very existence. I suck and irrevocably hate myself for letting you down (sob)”

If he had a press conference like this, that grand final May arrive earlier.

Add to the secret SGI war chest we all know is whispered about but never openly discussed in the smoky corridors of the taj.

The cup overfloweth, but Flanno needs his rogues before marquee.

i sniff more bulldogs myself.

 

[denis preston]

So much for the fued between Ben & Bud. Noticed both talking together after the game for a few minutes.

 

[Jersey No 14]

Vs. Tigers. We became more attractive to others. If we can get to say 10th you’ll see a big name or two.
And if we can claim a big name scalp or 2 we’ll have a good resume by the end of the season.

 

[sammymills]

Ive never seen ben hunt so happy as in that tigers game. Real good vibes around the club at the moment.

 

[Dragon David]

Ive never seen ben hunt so happy as in that tigers game. Real good vibes around the club at the moment.

Players are starting to believe in themselves and each other and that comes from better man management by Flanno and his crew. Still very early days but the signs are good.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Boys look to be enjoying their footy. That's great. First time theyve appeared that way to me in a dozen years.

 

[SnowDragon]

Watching the trial games, especially v tigers, I was pleasantly surprised by the attitude of hunt. Last year I wanted him gone, but if his attitude has really changed, and he plays with the team and the TEAM “game plan” (rather than the hook “hunt plan”) then I want him here.

 

[Illusion]

Boys look to be enjoying their footy. That's great. First time theyve appeared that way to me in a dozen years.

We will really know how they have bonded when the loses come ........ But if they can string 3 or 4 wins together that will definitely go a long way to turning the team around

 

[_Johnsy]

Yeah I read this too when it came out as well.

He says he regrets how it was handled, and if he could turn back time he would.

So wishy washy, virtue signaling and cowardly in his expression.

What he should have done is fully apologise for running the club down in the way he did to anyone who would listen.

It was disgusting, ungrateful, humiliating and embarrassing to every SGI fan and member. Even us Tiger fans were sickened by his selfish arrogant ramblings.

Then he finds out the club is not going to surrender and release him and all of a suddenly, low and behold, he’s Flanno all the way.

And he’s in joyful raptures about the Flanno 80 minute requirement, which when you think about it, is a concession by him that this wasn’t a feature under previous coaches ( his old hero’s).

My theory is that Flanno, Webby and the board, toughened up, showed some courage and told him to suck eggs (on his contract) and denied him his wishes.

He’s a leach and a coward for not apologising directly, not taking responsibility and for stealing precious DNA from SGI by running it down.

He’s not playing for SGI, he’s only pretending to play for SGI. Little creep.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I think Ben will become a better player under Flanno and he has realised that. He will get to the next level I hope.

At 33 or 34, it would be good if he retires from rep footy to concentrate on the Dragons but I doubt that will happen. He seems to enjoy playing for Qld far to much. But Qld will need to eventually replace DCE and Hunt so may be looking to take those steps this year.

 

[SAP58]

I think Ben will become a better player under Flanno and he has realised that. He will get to the next level I hope.

At 33 or 34, it would be good if he retires from rep footy to concentrate on the Dragons but I doubt that will happen. He seems to enjoy playing for Qld far to much. But Qld will need to eventually replace DCE and Hunt so may be looking to take those steps this year.

Totally agree, I think he likes the rep player payments a lot as well. Isn’t it $10k for each SOO game plus a bonus if they win the series.