‘I’ll be at the Dragons’: Ben Hunt wants to remain Dragons captain next year but can’t guarantee 2025 plans

Dragons star Ben Hunt has confirmed he will be at the club next year and wants to stay on as captain, but he isn’t as definitive when discussing his plans for 2025 after his management asked for a release earlier this season.

The 33-year-old has been at St George Illawarra since 2018 and signed a contract extension last year that would keep him with the club until the end of 2025.

But the veteran halfback dropped a bomb on the club back in June when his manager asked for an immediate release, with Hunt keen to return to Queensland after he felt Dragons officials made the wrong call to sack coach Anthony Griffin.

It led to a tense few weeks with his future seemingly brought up after every match at an awkward press conference, but Hunt declared on Thursday that he would be at the Dragons for 2024 after a positive meeting with incoming coach Shane Flanagan.

“I’ll be at the Dragons. I’ve had a few conversations with ‘Flanno’ so that’s where I’ll be,” he said after being named in the PM’s XIII squad that will travel to Papua New Guinea next week.

“I had a little catch up with him (last week) and I’m actually catching up with him again in the next few days. I’m not really sure what he wants to catch up for, but I’m looking forward to it just to see what he’s got to say.

“We’ve got a really good relationship and we have done for a long time now. I think he’ll do a good job for the club.”

While Hunt is committed to staying at the club next year, there are no guarantees he’ll be there in 2025.

“I wouldn’t say (my views from June) have improved drastically,” he said.

“I’ve put it all behind me and accepted that I’m going to be there. If I really think about it, (my stance) hasn’t changed a lot. That’s just where I’m going to be next year.

“At this stage I’m just going with it and just playing it as it is. I’m contracted for two years so that’s what it is. I’ll go with that.”

Hunt’s future may be clouded beyond next year but he’s adamant he doesn’t want to relinquish the captaincy despite suggestions he should be stripped of the role.

“I still want the captaincy,” he said after he again carried the team in attack.

“I enjoy that role and feel that I’ve still got some improvement in that role. I think I’m the best guy for it.”

Those rumours are nothing new to Hunt, who has had to deal with speculation about his future for years.

“It’s something I’m used to. That’s where our sport’s at,” he said.

“Everyone wants the big headline so they use clickbait. I’m used to it. There were some things out there that were the truth, but there was a lot that wasn’t. It’s just part of it.”

It was a brutal season for Hunt and the Dragons, but Flanagan’s arrival on a three-year deal should help turn things around after they finished 16th and won just five games.

Flanagan has worked as an assistant coach at the club in the past and was at the helm when Cronulla claimed its maiden NRL title in 2016.

“I only had him as an assistant so I’m not 100 per cent sure, but I think he’ll be a hard-nosed, straight-down-the line kind of guy that takes no rot if you’re not toeing the line or doing what he asked,” Hunt said.

“He’ll get you out and get someone else who will. I think that’s the type of guy he is and it could be good for us.”