The St George Illawarra Dragons are currently in the midst of contract negotiations with star half Ben Hunt โ but according to reports, their latest offer has fallen well short of expectation.
Channel 9โs Danny Weidler revealed on 100% Footy this week that while initial reports claimed the club had offered Hunt an extension worth approximately $850,000 per year, that suggestion was way off the mark, with the club โlow-ballingโ Hunt with an offer in the vicinity of $700,000.
โI think the club are of the opinion that heโll stay because of his love for coach Anthony Griffin,โ Weidler said.
โHeโs made it quite clear he wants to play under Griffin, but the $700,000 offer I donโt think will sit well with his management.โ
Hunt has already stated in recent weeks that his preference is to stay at the Dragons - but heโs still open to other offers, including a possible return to Queensland to join Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.
Those offers are likely to come streaming in now as other clubs try to seize on any potential uncertainty created by the Red Vโs offer.
โAt least four or five clubs will be hearing this news thinking โokay, we can have a crack nowโ. There arenโt a lot of fantastic halfbacks out there and $700,000 is a bargain," Weidler said.
โHeโs been very consistent, heโs in the running for the Dally M, I think the Dragons should be paying more.โ
โPeople have criticised him saying heโs been on big money for a long time and he hasโฆ but I think heโs earned it over the last three years. The Dragons are kidding themselves if they think (that offer) will keep him there.โ
Hunt has previously said he admires the direction and potential of the club, and the recent extension of Talatau Amoneโs contract has been seen as a positive move.
โI can definitely see myself finishing (at the Dragons),โ Hunt told Fox Sports a month ago.
โIโm enjoying myself at the club, Iโm enjoying being coached by (Griffin) and thereโs a good bunch of fellas. The club is heading in the right direction.
โThe priority is to get the Dragons to keep building.โ
Phil Gould agreed with Weidlerโs assessment of the deal, claiming the Dragons canโt afford to lose their best player if they want to keep building.
โMy impression was heโd asked for $850-875,000, which is not unreasonable in the current market,โ Gould said.
โGiven his status in that team โ they struggle without him and he carries them every week โ I donโt think they can afford to do without him.
โThere are only so many really good game-managing halfbacks at the moment, youโd pay him that for sure.โ
I love Ben Hunt, but if his condition to stay is Griffin also stays, then I’d prefer he went elsewhere and Jayden Sullivan becomes half-back. We cannot continue for another 3 years with that no-hoper Griffin. Tell me again why we got rid of McGregor?