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Damn ur right.. reminds me a lot of the Hunt shenanigans this year with 2.5yrs to run... that said he must be agitating due to being on 650k.. I guess we shall see if 850k is enough to satisfy him.
yes please
Gus was having joke in that game against Canberra I think mate. He knows him from the Penrith system. Billy Burns struggles with his hands, Gus knows this, and he was taking the piss. He thinks he's absolute shit from what I could gather, and I can't disagree if I'm honest.
Yeah right, he calls himself a doggies supporter nowadays then, or at least he does for the official dogs website.
www.bulldogs.com.au
If you have watched St George games on 9 he has done it on more than one occasion.
if your right gus will find a spot for him.
If Flanagan is going to rebuild this squad, starting with our forwards, surely Burns has to go??
Would still prefer Burns ahead of Bird
What a good read, nice to hear that Hunt is working with Flanno on recruitment, fingers crossed a couple of big signings announced before Christmas.View attachment 81269
NRL Free Agency special: The November 1 targets at every club
On November 1 a host of rugby league talent hits the open market – see who your club must target, and who they must keep.
Brent Read, David Riccio and Michael Carayannis
2 min read
October 28, 2023 - 4:00PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://archive.md/vcULC/again?url=.../bb94baf1d16dd8a15cbfb02386eb9b38#share-tools
The futures of Josh Addo-Carr and Ryan Papenhuyzen have made headlines as Brent Read and Michael Carayannis join Adam Mobbs to reveal what's behind the latest talk. They look at the potential player swaps, why some clubs fear the "games" being played in the background and reminisce about the good old days of M*A*S*H.
St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt has backed a push to sign North Queensland half Tom Dearden as the Dragons look to fast-track their rebuild by launching a spending spree on November 1.
The Dragons are cashed-up and coach Shane Flanagan is intent on landing some big names as he attempts to strengthen their roster and give their long-suffering supporters some genuine hope that they can turn things around after years of frustration.
Dearden has emerged as a potential target given he will enter the final year of his contract on November 1, having baulked at an initial offer from the Cowboys to extend his deal.
The Cowboys and Queensland star is expected to command offers in excess of $900,000 on the open market as he cashes in on the dearth of playmakers up for grabs.
Dearden heads a list that also includes Penrith star Jarome Luai, Brisbane sensation Ezra Mam and Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary.
Dragons captain Ben Hunt has backed a push for his club to poach Cowboys star Tom Dearden. Picture: Getty Images
This masthead understands that Luai is not on the Dragons radar. Mam is expected to command huge offers following his grand final heroics, although there is a view that he is unlikely to leave the Broncos.
Keary almost joined the Dragons some years back, meeting then-coach Paul McGregor, but he rejected a lucrative deal to sign with the Roosters and the expectation is that he will finish his career at Bondi Junction.
That leaves Dearden and Hunt is among his fans – the pair played together for Queensland last year.
“He is a great kid, a really good kid,” Hunt said.
“He has definitely got to be someone that a lot of clubs look at. Halves and five-eighths don’t grow on trees.
“They are very hard to come by and he is a young guy with his best footy ahead of him.”
Hunt concedes November 1 is huge for the Dragons as they look to add quality and depth to their roster.
Flanagan has bought the club some breathing room by holding off on signing a number of their existing players.
Francis Molo, Jack de Belin, Jaydn Su’A, Mathew Feagai, Max Feagai, Michael Molo, Moses Suli, and Tyrell Sloan all enter the final year of their deals next week.
It is understood the Dragons have indicated a desire to begin talks with Suli but he is expected to test his value on the open market.
Jarome Luai is not on the Dragons radar, while Ezra Mam is unlikely to leave the Broncos. Picture: Getty Images
The club has also been rocked by the guilty verdict handed down to five-eighth Junior Amone last week, leaving his future in limbo until he is sentenced in December.
The Dragons need to land some key targets to give their fans a sign that they are still a club with punch in the player market.
Asked whether November 1 had become more important following the verdict in the Amone case, Hunt said: “I think November 1 is important for us anyway. I am sure Flanno has a few guys in his sights that he is going to be after.
“It is going to be a pretty exciting couple of weeks on November 1 anyway.”
More Coverage
Flanagan had indicated he would use Hunt to help him recruit players and the skipper confirmed the pair had discussed some of the club’s plans.
“He has leaned on me for a few things,” Hunt said.
“I have gone to him about a couple of guys who will fit our team. It should be good.
