Ahhhh Ben

[SamKerrSimp]

For me going after Hunt is obvious, if you have a spine for the majority 2025:

6 : S Smith
7: Chad Townsend
9: Connor Watson

you have one of the weakest half’s and hooker combinations in the league.
When an Australian quality player comes on the market and you have the above players you go for it .
It’s not a long term play but trying to cover 2 ACL’s that weren’t factored in when we do or recruiting or planning

Isn't this why we signed Townsend though? You're right that having that spine you mentioned for most of 2025 isn't going to get us very far but I don't see how adding Ben Hunt in to the 6 or 7 takes us much further than Smith/Townsend will, our problems for 2025 go a lot further than just being without Walker and Smith we also going in to the season with one of the worst outside backlines in the comp and our forward pack was incredibly disappointing last year against the top teams in the comp.

I'd be okay with Hunt playing 9 but he hates playing that position.

[mightyrooster]

Isn't this why we signed Townsend though? You're right that having that spine you mentioned for most of 2025 isn't going to get us very far but I don't see how adding Ben Hunt in to the 6 or 7 takes us much further than Smith/Townsend will, our problems for 2025 go a lot further than just being without Walker and Smith we also going in to the season with one of the worst outside backlines in the comp and our forward pack was incredibly disappointing last year against the top teams in the comp.

I'd be okay with Hunt playing 9 but he hates playing that position.

When we signed Chad we didn’t know Sammy and Smith would both do their ACLs and be out for half or more of the 2025 season.

[Schooner]

We might need both Hunt and Townsend to start the year. Its possible Sandon Smith will get a suspension for his accident, and it sounds like they want to move the Cheese on this year. Zac Dockar Clay hasnt re-signed yet and our other halves are too young to start. I have no idea what Tyler Moriarty's status is. He is listed on the club web site but not on the NRL list of contracted players

[SamKerrSimp]

When we signed Chad we didn’t know Sammy and Smith would both do their ACLs and be out for half or more of the 2025 season.

But we signed Townsend as injury cover for the halves and now we're at that precise situation. It was also mentioned in the media that before signing Chad we were aiming to throw big money at Shaun Johnson which I'm glad he rejected.

Hunt can cover halves and 9 but he's publicly stated he hates the 9 and at $1m+ a season he stays in the starting lineup somewhere when Walker returns so it was pointless to sign Chad and Sandon Smith moves down the pecking order and will struggle to develop eventually getting released and in 2027 we're back looking for a halves partner for Walker.

[mightyrooster]

But we signed Townsend as injury cover for the halves and now we're at that precise situation. It was also mentioned in the media that before signing Chad we were aiming to throw big money at Shaun Johnson which I'm glad he rejected.

Hunt can cover halves and 9 but he's publicly stated he hates the 9 and at $1m+ a season he stays in the starting lineup somewhere when Walker returns so it was pointless to sign Chad and Sandon Smith moves down the pecking order and will struggle to develop eventually getting released and in 2027 we're back looking for a halves partner for Walker.

Perhaps injury cover for Chad? I’m really not sure but we’re not releasing May to free up more cap money for nothing. Something is brewing.

[Fishwa]

I think Chad was signed as backup / cover - so he probably was only thinking he would play a handful of games - and his pay reflects that ($350k?).

Hunt would be in the 17 every week - and i don't think we would sign him if he wasn't prepared to play 6,7,9 and/or 14

End of the day - he would make our squad markedly better - especially with the Walker / B.Smith injuries - so its a no brainer i think

If Walker / B.Smith were not injured - I dont know if we would pursue him or not - I think probably yes - but not certain

[SamKerrSimp]

Perhaps injury cover for Chad? I’m really not sure but we’re not releasing May to free up more cap money for nothing. Something is brewing.

I agree I don't think May is released to sign Hunt I still think it's to give more minutes to younger forwards that the club feel have more long term upside.

I also agree that something is brewing and I feel like we'll make a big signing but in the backline rather than the forwards.

[HDTONE]

Reckon there's a few things, his experience, our shitty position with halves atm, taking pressure of Sandon and Hunt is competitive.

At the Merge that outfit were going nowhere and he knew it so he wanted out...comes to us or the Dogs then he's moved up...Dolphins is another helicopter team so don't think he'll go there.

[Bansai Pipeline]

Doomsday scenario is that Brandon Smith is remade into a superstar at Souths by Bennet.

Not outside the realms of possibility

[ChookMaster]

1M over 2 years apparently. We want to use him at hooker as well.

I don’t think we’ll sign him.

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

1M over 2 years apparently. We want to use him at hooker as well.

I don’t think we’ll sign him.

I don't think the NRL would register him at that amount, wasn't he on around a million a season at saints.
He would be considered a million dollar player and from the way I understand it he can't be signed for that much under his value.

[Rooster_6]

Yeh SMH herald reporting Bulldogs look the most likely to land his signature as he will get to play halfback and believes they can win the premiership.

Roosters and Broncos both looking to play him as a number 9 which he’s not keen on.

Dolphins with the best offer in terms of $ but doesn’t think he can win a premiership there.

[The Lip]

can't see us landing him tbh. he doesn't really want to play 9 , he won't be playing 7 once Sam is back unless we are brainless and do something that will jeopardise Walkers desire to stay and are prepared to sacrifice a 23 year old half for a 34 year old.

When you look at our roster compared to the bulldogs you would have to say he's going to think he's a better chance at the dogs to win a premiership than us - unfortunately that's the reality of it - we don't have a solid 9 7 or 6 for the next 9 months and you can't win a premiership with what our spine is going to look like. Dogs are on the up and we are on the wane.

I don't like putting up the white flag so quickly on our prospects for 25/26 and live in hope but the reality of it is we need 3 or 4 very good signings to be a threat in the short term.

[ChookMaster]

It’s a sad day when a player chooses the bulldogs over the roosters.

Once again, just goes to show how much we’ve fallen over the last few years with recruitment

[SamKerrSimp]

Ben Hunt is a perennial loser that doesn't make teams he plays for better and I don't believe for a second that the club were ever seriously chasing his signature.