OFFICIAL Ben Hunt returns home to Broncos on two-year deal

[Big Pete]

I wonder if it's been mostly about affording him for this year??

We have soooo many halves and hookers on the books, but by the end of next year Reynolds, Paix and Smoothy will be off contract and potentially off the books (although I like Smoothy)... and to me Madden surely looks elsewhere... Bhunt's contract finishes at the same time as his... so what's his plan to get an extension if he's not playing?

We currently have 10 halves and hookers in the Top 30 (excluding Hayze Perham)... so by the end of 2025 that will potentially be down to 7 or possibly 6 (if Madden finds a new home)... end of 2026 they're all off contract except Ezra.

If all of Reynolds, Paix, Smoothy and Madden leave by the end of 2025, the remaining halves and hookers would be as per below.

I think based on that the key to signing Bhunt is being able to move Madden on (full freight) and losing Paix's wages for 2026... those two combined would be on similar or more than Bhunt's $600k (unknown what is on the cap for 2026 with this career after retiring thing) and then Bukowski likely coming in at pretty low Top 30 wage to fill in the two Top 30 spots.

By 2027 broncos would be hoping that Mozer and Bukowski are covering hooker... although I wouldn't mind Smoothy as depth as well... with Ezra and Coby covering halves as your starters.

Halves:
Ezra (2029)
Bhunt (2026)
Black (2026)
Rogers (2026)

Hookers:
Mozer (2025, but hopefully re-signed soon)
Bukowski (assume his contract upgrades to Top 30 by 2026)
Billy (2026)

You know what they say about best laid plans.

It's moreso 2025 that I have concerns over. We were led to believe the Broncos salary cap was tight and yet they can afford a Test player? It doesn't add up, especially since they haven't been offered any dispensation for Mam.

It's not that I think the entire thing will backfire and this will end up costing the Broncos Cobbo, Staggs and Mozer. However I do expect the other shoe to drop at some point and I don't expect it all to go the Broncos way.

 

[Big Del]

Not a clutch player? Don’t you remember him winning us that state of origin.

Pffft !
You only watch origin ? Not watched him play week to week ?

He was lucky Cleary fcked up his kick and it fell into his arms and he ran away .
It wasn`t an amazing -pass - run -kick . FFS ...

 

[Harry Sack]

how are all you fannys still crying about something 9 years ago? move the **** on. i'm happy to have hunt back. he loves the club and will bust his arse for us.

Ha! Fannys

 

[Ondi]

I was not expecting Hunt to return in the slightest and even with all the talk I didn't believe it until the official email from the club (which is rare for a blind supporter like me I usually lap this stuff up). I think it's a fortunate signing with the Mam situation and last year of Reynolds. It not only makes Mam have to take his return seriously but it solves our halves issue with Reynolds hanging up the boots. He takes care of one of my biggest concerns in our lack of experience. No doubt we will get hammered at origin time if this squad plays to its potential but I digress.

I'm really happy with Benny's return I think he takes so much pressure off of a few positions and in return I hope the pressure is somewhat off him to deliver. It's a fine balance but lets see how our new coaching team can get the best out of them. There are really no excuses with this line up.

2025........ I'm ready

Lets go...

 

[Manofoneway]

Been over this before ...
The backline move they would have practiced a thousand times went awry after Piakura had to come off and Patrick Carrigan moved to left edge . Patty was not where he should have been in that move . Ezra passed to where he expected him to be after 1000s of rehearsals . But ,,, Patty was a step too slow and metre wider than he should have been and Joseph Manu capatilised .
Maybe Patty should have tipped Ezra not to pass as he was not in position . Or Ezra should of had better awareness .
If the players were in their rightful positions and not having to substitute in unfamiliar positions I doubt it would have happened .

He threw about a dozen intercept passes throughout the year. Not sure how many of them we can blame on blokes being out of position

 

[McHunt]

He threw about a dozen intercept passes throughout the year. Not sure how many of them we can blame on blokes being out of position

Nice try, Narelle, but your boy is no chance of ever wearing Ezra's 6 again.

 

[BroncsFan]

You know what they say about best laid plans.

It's moreso 2025 that I have concerns over. We were led to believe the Broncos salary cap was tight and yet they can afford a Test player? It doesn't add up, especially since they haven't been offered any dispensation for Mam.

It's not that I think the entire thing will backfire and this will end up costing the Broncos Cobbo, Staggs and Mozer. However I do expect the other shoe to drop at some point and I don't expect it all to go the Broncos way.

Have we filled our Top 30 for 2025 yet??

It's interesting that $600k across 12 months is $50k per month and Ben has been signed near December so that might be $50k knocked off his salary.

If we haven't signed a 30th player as yet they might wait until right on the deadline to sign someone to the top 30 at minimum wage representing a pretty low cost on the cap.. like Bukowski getting upgraded or something.

We have been led to believe that we had about $500k of cap left for 2025?? Can't recall with so many numbers thrown around but something popped up recently.

I think it was pretty tight for 2025, but with Hunt coming and if some players get a tap on the shoulder that they won't be extended... then we might see some movement across Paix, Madden, Smoothy, etc.

 

[Kaz]

Frankly, if one player is the difference between finals and no finals - you're whole team is cooked.

But one player can gel the team.

 

[theshed]

Calm down mate. It's emotional scars from him dropping the ball of the kick-off. It's not an opinion, it's what I most remember from that game (probably because it's replayed so many times, and it happened right in front of me).

Didn't say it was all his fault we lost, or that he shouldn't get credit for getting us there. But in mine and others memory, Ben Hunt and the Broncos (unfairly or not) is synonymous with:

View attachment 30520

Edit: felt depressed just looking at that gif again

This is not a hill I’ll die on but that kinda looks like it goes backwards

 

[Broncones]

Pffft !
You only watch origin ? Not watched him play week to week ?

He was lucky Cleary fcked up his kick and it fell into his arms and he ran away .
It wasn`t an amazing -pass - run -kick . FFS ...

He did a lot of great things before that intercept as well and has proven himself in the origin arena many times before. A man can only do so much playing for the dragons, he has been their best player year after year so I’m quite confused as to what you are on about? It seems like you don’t rate any player at this point tbh. You have told me reynolds, hunt, Ezra are all shit players in different occasions so what halves do you rate? Do you just enjoy calling everyone shit or something like that.

 

[winslow_wong]

This is not a hill I’ll die on but that kinda looks like it goes backwards

imagine if madge sits hunt down and tells him that. Hunt then cries tears of joy as the giant burden is off his shoulders. Comes back and becomes a premiership player.

 

[Manofoneway]

Nice try, Narelle, but your boy is no chance of ever wearing Ezra's 6 again.

My boy will be wearing the 6 to start the season. Ben hunt that is!