Ben Hunt, captain of the St George Illawarra Dragons, has reportedly requested to leave the struggling NRL club. This news has sent shockwaves through the league, as the Dragons sit at the bottom of the ladder following a difficult season that saw coach Anthony Griffin dismissed. Despite the recent appointment of Shane Flanagan as head coach, Hunt is said to be unconvinced of the club’s future direction and is seeking a fresh start.
Flanagan, who officially took over this week, expressed his belief that Hunt made his decision to leave prior to his appointment. He emphasized that the club still considers Hunt a key player and leader. Hunt is currently contracted until 2025, and Flanagan stated that from the club’s perspective, Hunt will remain with the Dragons. He mentioned that he had spoken to Hunt before taking the coaching role, and while Hunt had seemed fine with Flanagan’s potential hiring at the time, the situation has now changed.
Hunt is currently on duty with the Queensland State of Origin team, and Flanagan plans to speak with him once the Origin series is concluded. The new coach is hopeful that Hunt can play a vital role in his rebuilding efforts at St George, especially in recruitment and retention of players.
- Flanagan is keen for Hunt to use his standing in the game to help attract talent to the Dragons. However, with Hunt expressing a desire to leave, the future remains uncertain, and it is yet to be seen if Flanagan can convince the star player to stay and assist in reviving the Dragons’ fortunes.
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