St George Illawarra Dragons superstar Ben Hunt would be suiting up for the Broncos this weekend if the club had granted his request to be released from his contract, according to The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel.
Just two weeks after Hunt went public with his request to leave the Dragons two years early, the club has stood tall and continued to deny any chance for the disgruntled star to depart.
Hunt has been linked with long-term moves back home with the Gold Coast Titans and the Dolphins but could secure a move to a top-four club for the remainder of the season if he was let go by the Dragons.
The Broncos became the most suitable candidate for Hunt and will now have to patiently wait for the Red V to grant the playmaker’s wishes in order to make a formal contract offer.
“I can tell you emphatically, it was 100 per cent accurate that the Broncos are interested, it’s now all dependent on what the Dragons do,” Badel told SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“Obviously we heard that the Dragons are digging their heels in and won’t let release Hunt, as they’re entitled to do because he’s under contract.
“If the Dragons eventually agree to finally, reluctantly let him go, he will be at the Broncos for the rest of the season, the Broncos are dead keen.”
Hunt recently inked a two-year extension at the Dragons, in a deal with around $1.8 million until the end of the 2025 season.
“They’ve got the cap space, they’ve already crunched the numbers and they are looking to play Ben Hunt at number nine, and they would move Billy Walters to 14,” Badel added.
“Which to me is a pretty good combo to share those two guys for the minutes at dummy half.
“The Broncos are definitely keen, but they need the Dragons to green light it to make it happen.”
Hunt has been named as the Dragons’ halfback and captain for their clash against cross-town rivals the Cronulla Sharks on Thursday night.