We could afford a new top of the line halfback if we let Hunt go and used his salary to pay for the new halfback.
It should always be like for like or better!
It's a precarious situation.. unless there is a huge plot-twist coming.. it looks like Flanno wants to run with Hunt for 2025.. one more year.. which gives him a chance to spread the net properly.. and thoroughly... and see what he can come up with for 2026.. because once Hunt has an end-date, Flanno can genuinely try to tempt players further up the food chain with a guaranteed first grade gig.. and hopefully a better looking roster and pack to entice them with.
It is possible he buys an Ilias or a Pezet (I doubt we get him though) with 12mths to develop them in our system first.. but I just cant see Flanno parting with 500-600k numbers for a reserve halfback.. I dont think he wants to rush this decision.
But I think we can afford to lose Hunt if we wanted too now.. we have some respectable marquee type players in Cook & Holmes.. and I think ideally he would love say a Gutho @6 to take the pressure off the new halfback.. Hunt could perhaps play 6 but we have had this conversation before.
I dont know of any 'experienced' halfbacks on the market that we're going to be able to sign.. not genuine halves.. I think were gonna have to find someone stuck behind a rep 7, or someone cast-aside prematurely.. I dunno.. I guess thats something we wont know for a while yet.