The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio is unsure what St George and Ben Hunt have to gain by allowing the halfback to play on Friday night against the Warriors.
The Dragons captain has informed the club that he wants out of the remainder of his contract, which ends in 2025, confirming that his preference would be a return to his home state in Queensland.
With a chorus of boos from Dragons fans expected in Wollongong, Riccio doesn’t think playing Hunt is the smartest move from the club.
“I thought management and Ben Hunt would come to a decision to sit this one out,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I don’t know what’s to gain from what could possibly unfold.
“All roads lead to a Monday meeting with Shane Flanagan and Ben Hunt.
“That is where we will get a lot of clarity around his future at St George Illawarra.
“It’s going to be interesting what comes of that meeting to determine a couple of things.
“Will the Dragons even entertain letting him go? Do they come to some sort of agreement where he plays out the rest of the season?
“Or do they let him go immediately?
“I don’t think the fans will be throwing him roses or giving him boxes of chocolates.”
In a bizarre twist, incoming Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler could be a huge factor in Hunt landing at the club.
Riccio believes that if the Dragons were to consider letting Hunt go, they may seek a form of compensation from the Titans.
“I can’t rule out the fact that Ben Hunt is sitting in the background,” Riccio added.
“I think the appointment of Des Hasler increases the odds of Hasler going to the Titans tenfold.
“He has a great history of coaching talented halves.
“The key thing is that Tanah Boyd and Kieran Foran are off-contract for the Titans at the end of 2024.
“Do we see Tanah Boyd at the Dragons?
“Something has already been in the works and I think it’s bound to happen.”