Billy Slater makes call on Ben Hunt's future after Dragons captain's horror moment in loss
Hunt's future has come under question after a number of recent incidents.
Queensland coach Billy Slater has warned the Dragons against making any rash moves around the future of Ben Hunt after the St George Illawarra skipper was torched by fans for a horror moment in his side's final round collapse against Canberra on Saturday. The Dragons ended a disappointing NRL season with a heartbreaking 26-24 defeat to the Raiders at home, despite leading by four points in the dying stages of the game.
The result typified the Dragons' late season struggles as they went from eighth place to dropping out of finals contention, following three consecutive losses to the Sharks, Eels and Raiders. Hunt's leadership and game management has been roundly criticised and he again came under fire on Saturday after inexplicably handing the Raiders a crucial seven-tackle set that allowed them to score the match-winning try.
The Dragons were attacking the Raiders' line in the dying stages as they looked to put the game to bed. But when a high kick went to ground, Hunt decided to toe it ahead rather than just pick up the loose footy, and watched in disbelief as it rolled across the dead-ball line to give the Raiders a seven-tackle set.
Canberra took the invitation with open arms to muscle their way down the other end of the field, before setting up a final tackle play for Corey Horsburgh to score a try off his own fortuitous kick. The Raiders interchange grubbered the ball to himself and benefited from a ricochet off a Dragons defender before scooping the ball up to score a try that drew the visitors level. Kaeo Weekes nailed the conversion to snatch the win for Canberra.
It was a shocking way for the Dragons to end their season after defying critics by pushing for a finals spot for most of the season under new coach Shane Flanagan. But the late season capitulation has shone the spotlight on Hunt's future at the club, especially after he was given a post-game bake by Flanagan after the shock 44-40 loss to strugglers Parramatta in round 26.
Dragons fans turn on Ben Hunt after loss to Raiders
Flanagan came out afterwards to deny it was a spray for Hunt and insisted the animated discussion with his star playmaker was about what he thought should have happened "in the last play of the game". The Dragons coach will no doubt be filthy with Hunt's last-tackle play against the Raiders on Saturday as well, with many fans suggesting it could be time for the club to part ways with the veteran halfback.
If flanno gave Ben Hunt a bake last week after the game today could be much worse. For such an experienced player giving up the 7 tackle set then just awful game management with the lead and time near gone on the clock #NRL
— Mark Cruickshank (@MCruicky) September 7, 2024
A disgusting finish to the season by the @NRL_Dragons . Ben Hunt needs to take an indefinite leave of absence, Sloan needs to learn to tackle and RFM, Lawrie and the Feagai’s need to be swept out the door.
We are about 4-6 NRL standard players away from truly competing. Major…— Drew Starkey (@AndrewMStarkey) September 7, 2024
Ben Hunt needs to sort his shit out. Kicking game for the entire second half way abysmal and it cost us the game. There is no sugar coating it.
Hopeless.#NRLDragonsRaiders— Log (@LogPowerslave) September 7, 2024
Yet another Ben Hunt special. Kicking game was reserve grade tier in the second half.
— Log (@LogPowerslave) September 7, 2024
I’m so sick of Ben Hunt. Sooner he’s shown the door, the better.
— Jay Peterman (@Jay__Peterman) September 7, 2024
Billy Slater warns Dragons against moving on Ben Hunt
Despite the backlash around Hunt though, Maroons coach Slater warned the Dragons against trying to move the representative playmaker on. Slater is a big fan of Hunt's from his time coaching the 34-year-old at State of Origin level, and the Maroons mentor warned the Dragons against rushing to replace their marquee star when they aren't better alternatives in the No.7 role.
"I don't think they can afford to lose Ben Hunt right now," Slater said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "If they had another half ready to step up, maybe they would look at releasing some salary cap pressure and releasing Ben Hunt. I don't think they would right now."
Hunt indicated a desire to leave the club last year before performing a backflip and agreeing on an extension. But plenty of Dragons fans are questioning whether the veteran is delivering value on his big-money contract. And league great Brad Fittler was among those to suggest Hunt may "need a breather" from Flanagan.
"Just watching the coach and him react in the changerooms ... maybe they both need a breather," he said. The Dragons have only made the finals once in Hunt's seven years at the club, when they exited in the second week of the playoffs in 2018. And despite a vast improvement in 2024 compared to last season when they finished second-last on the ladder, Fittler says it still has to be considered a failure for Flanagan's side.
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"Their ability to deal with pressure has been dreadful," he said. "It's hard to believe that if you don't make the semis that it can be a positive year - to be serious, it's half the competition. It can be an improvement, but it's hard to call it a positive."
