The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio believes Ben Hunt will not see out the full extent of his contract at the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Hunt has had a tumultuous 2023 season marred off-field speculation surrounding his future at the club and the Dragons’ five-win season resulting in a 16th place finish.
The veteran halfback spoke to The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis in which he confirmed he would stay at the club next year but regretted re-signing to the club at the end of the 2022 season.
Speaking to SEN 1170 Breakfast, Riccio said the explosive comments told him that Hunt’s inevitable departure meant the Dragons needed to find a crop of new leaders.
“This speaks to a leadership void at St George Illawarra,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Hunt will only be there next year and I’m happy to declare that.
“He is on contract for 2025 but my belief is that he will not be there. We will get another 12 months out of him.
“In that time, Saints need to find some new leaders because whenever (Hunt) was out, they turned to Jack De Belin which will always be polarising and Blake Lawrie.
“The leadership void is an issue for (incoming coach) Shane Flanagan.”
In his interview with Carayannis, Hunt was incredibly honest about the lack of enjoyment he has had at the club in the past 12 months but insisted he would give his all for the team as long as he is at the Dragons.
“He is just so open and honest,” Riccio continued.
“He is so candid about the way he isn’t afraid to tell Dragons fans how he feels.
“The biggest quote in that interview is that he regrets re-signing and you just don’t hear that from players.
“Despite his public declaration of how he feels, there’s no sense of him not doing the job when he runs on the footy field.
“He won’t lay down. He’s not that sort of character. For that 80 minutes, he’s all in.”
The Dragons have not featured in the finals series since 2018.