He has been granted permission to explore his options.
Another NRL club, the North Queensland Cowboys, has reportedly joined the Gold Coast Titans in pulling out of the race for Ben Hunt, after he was granted permission by the St George Illawarra Dragons to explore his options.
Hunt, who is contracted with the Dragons until the end of the 2025 season, has likely played his last game for the club, as reports surfaced on Wednesday that he is now allowed to negotiate with rival teams before November 1.
The veteran halfback’s future has been uncertain since he requested a release last year, and he is currently seeking a new destination. While Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has confirmed their continued interest in Hunt, News Corp reports that the Cowboys are no longer pursuing his services.
New Dolphins head coach Kristian Woolf addressed the media reports linking Ben Hunt to the club, stating, “I read the media reports and I can sit here with my hand on my heart and say we’ve had no contact at all,” during a press conference.
He added, “At the moment it’s not something I’m interested in talking about. We’re always interested in talented players, and Ben Hunt is a talented player—he’s playing for Australia at the moment. We’re always interested in having those conversations, but as I said, that conversation hasn’t happened at the moment.”
Meanwhile, it is understood that the Canterbury Bulldogs are also showing interest in the $950,000-per-season player.
At this stage, the Dragons have not officially confirmed whether Ben Hunt could be released to another team for the upcoming season. However, sources speaking to *The Herald* revealed that the club is open to the idea, and it is highly likely that Hunt has played his last game for the Red V.
This development follows the Dragons’ recent decision to inform Hunt that he would not be offered a contract extension beyond his current deal, which runs through to the end of 2025.