Former Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds has urged the Dragons to chop ties with Ben Hunt, admitting the halfback’s current feedback about his future on the membership would “hurt” him as a teammate.
Speaking on the Footy Talk League Podcast with former NRL participant James Graham and present Roosters utility Connor Watson, Reynolds stated the Dragons ought to let Hunt “go”.
Reynolds although did concede the Dragons ought to discover all potential avenues for getting one thing substantial in return earlier than doing so however added the membership dangers the saga dragging on in the event that they depart it too lengthy.
Watch each recreation of The 2023 NRL Telstra Finals Series earlier than the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and begin streaming immediately >
“If I’m that club, let him go,” Reynolds stated.
“Flanno has won a grand final with the Sharks and now he’s chasing a guy who doesn’t want to be there. Let him go, mate. How long has this been going on for? Make sure, as a club, you don’t get walked over. Get something in return.”
Incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has declared Hunt will not be going wherever and the skipper himself appears resigned to the very fact he shall be enjoying for the Red V once more in 2024.
That in itself is a matter for Reynolds and Graham, who pointed in the direction of Hunt’s feedback to Triple M final week the place he admitted that enjoying for the Dragons is “not” his “first option”.
As former NRL gamers, each Graham and Reynolds questioned what Hunt’s Dragons teammates would make of all of it heading into a brand new period for the membership beneath Flanagan.
“We didn’t give ourselves a chance!” | 08:25
“I think Ben’s made his point that he wants to move back to Queensland,” Graham stated.
“I probably question why he didn’t have that thought this time last year when he signed his extension. We’re all entitled to change our mind.
“I just wonder what’s happened, whether that’s been a desire to move back to Queensland or whether it’s something that’s happened at club or executive level because that’s where this sort of seems to be pointing towards.
“Ben’s been made some promises which weren’t upheld. I know he was keen on having a clause in his contract that if Anthony Griffin was sacked then therefore his contract becomes null and void.
“Not too dissimilar to the Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita clauses with coach Justin Holbrook. With that said, Hunt didn’t get that in.
“He’s contracted to be at that football club. What are you thinking going into day one of pre-season, new coach, full of optimism but your skipper probably doesn’t want to be there. Not even probably, definitely doesn’t want to be there.”
MORE NRL NEWS
MATCH WRAP: Panthers crush Storm in ugly prelim massacre as dynasty grows
PANTHERS RATINGS: ‘Clinical’ famous person’s excellent 10 as unheralded hero emerges
STORM RATINGS: Errors in every single place as Melbourne save worst for final
Reynolds conceded it might have “hurt him” if he was a teammate of Hunt’s to listen to that his coronary heart was elsewhere.
While not essentially criticising Hunt for feeling that approach, Reynolds merely made the purpose as a former participant that it might arduous to enter pre-season coaching understanding his captain wasn’t totally dedicated.
“That hurts me as a teammate. It really does,” Reynolds stated.
“He’s your captain, your halfback and you can just hear it in the tone of his voice. He does not want to be there.
“As you said, he’s allowed to do it but it’s hard. It’s hard for me to go in there, train with him and he doesn’t want to be there. He doesn’t want to do those extra things you’ve got to do during pre-season. He just doesn’t look happy, you can tell, he’s not happy.”
Graham, who performed alongside Hunt on the Dragons from 2018 to 2020, stated that he doesn’t doubt his former teammate when he stated he would play to one of the best of his potential for the membership.
But Graham additionally questioned whether or not the 33-year-old will be capable to stay as much as his full potential if his thoughts is elsewhere.
Graham on tips on how to nerf excellent Panthers | 01:23
“I trust Ben that he says I’m going to give this my best and I’ll play my best,” Graham stated.
“But anybody that understands about motivation knows that your potential best is influenced by you feeling wanted and you feeling like you belong at that club and organisation that is something bigger than you.
“So, his best is nowhere his potential best if he’s all-in at that club. If you’re at a place you don’t want to be you can try your best, but it’s nowhere near it because that’s what motivates you. It’s what gets you to go above and beyond.
“His best at the Dragons would not be anywhere near what his best would be if he was back at the Brisbane, Gold Coast or Dolphins.”
“It’s mindset,” added Reynolds.
“How can he chip a guy [as] captain? If my captain says something to me and it’s constructive, I’ll be like, ‘Yep mate, 100 per cent’. How can he say something to anyone if you know he’s not in that same mindset as you?”
“An example, you go to these camps and stuff and try get real close to everyone. If you know he doesn’t want to be there, is he really going to tell you what he really thinks? Or is he going to be, ‘I’ll just get through this’.”
Get all the newest NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
On the floor, Watson and the Roosters might be going through an analogous state of affairs with winger Joseph Suaalii, who’s coming into his ultimate yr with the group earlier than switching again to rugby union.
Watson although stated the 2 eventualities had been utterly completely different, insisting Suaalii “wants to make the most” of his final season with the membership.
As for Hunt, even Watson stated it might be “tough” as a participant to listen to his feedback.
“I think it’s different,” the Roosters utility stated.
“I definitely think Joe’s is different to this because Joe wants to be there next year, we know that. He’s definitely made that clear that he wants to do his best for the Roosters before he goes, he wants to make the most of it.
“I just feel like time and time again we’re talking about the Dragons and talking about issues that come from things that they say in the media. It’d be tough as a player, especially when your captain is saying that. It’d make you feel like you guys don’t have a chance next year before a ball is even kicked.”
NAS escapes bin for blatant late shot! | 00:36
The Dragons do have a back-up possibility ought to Hunt ultimately be granted a launch, with Kyle Flanagan on his strategy to the membership from the Bulldogs.
But each Graham and Reynolds questioned the choice to not make extending Jayden Sullivan extra of a precedence given the considerations over Hunt’s future.
“I’d be keeping Sullivan. Why would they let him go?” Reynolds requested.
“That seems bizarre to let go of Sullivan,” added Graham.
“We know how rare the halfback situation is in the NRL at the moment. Teams are locking them away.”
The Titans have been reported because the more than likely touchdown spot for Hunt and whereas Graham is worried concerning the veteran halfback’s feedback, he additionally conceded that is removed from an easy resolution for the Dragons.
Sullivan’s departure solely makes it much more sophisticated in accordance with Graham.
“It’s really difficult for me to weigh up what the best course of action for the Dragons is,” he stated.
“Do they negotiate their way out of this with a club like the Titans and look to get something in return?
“If that’s not a possibility, do you hold onto your best player, your club captain, your most expensive player and say, ‘We’re not going to be a place [where] a contract with you means nothing’.
“If you allow Ben to go then maybe you allow other players to go? Or do you have the mantra of, ‘Well, if you don’t want to be here there’s the door’.
“It’s very difficult where they go with those three and they may not all be options. It’s so late in the piece now that if they do allow him to go, who is going to play seven? They just let Jayden Sullivan go, one of the best up-and-coming halves.”
Graham stated the Dragons have to get one thing “exceptional” in return for Hunt, a degree Alex McKinnon made in a column for foxsports.com.au earlier within the yr.
Olam SCORES one then BOTTLES one | 00:34
“The Dragons simply cannot let Ben Hunt walk… for free,” he wrote on the time.
“You won’t hear a bad word said about Hunt but the fact he’s let this play out so publicly and messily means only one thing: this situation is beyond salvageable.
“So knowing that, the club has to salvage something and cash is meaningless here therefore it must be a player swap.”
McKinnon floated a swap deal for halfback Toby Sexton and entrance rower Moeaki Fotuaika.
While that’s now not potential with Sexton now enjoying for the Bulldogs, Graham was insistent the Dragons have to discover a strategy to come out of the Hunt saga “winning” on the negotiation desk — ought to it get to that time.
“It’s got to be an exceptional deal and if it’s not an exceptional deal I’m going to stand for something rather than fall for everything because if he goes, what message does that send to Jayden Su’A, Jack Bird, Jack de Belin, Suli or any other player?” Graham stated.
“They [could] just go, ‘Well, I don’t want to be here either. I want to jump ship’. The club can’t be shown in a position of weakness. They need to come out of this winning.
“It can be a situation where Ben wins, the Dragons win and his future employer wins. But if you’re the Dragons, we win.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
