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Wayne Bennett backs Ben Hunt in final year at Broncos despite Dragons deal
Matt Logue, The Daily TelegraphJanuary 23, 2017 1:43pm
Subscriber only
WAYNE Bennett has vowed to stand by halfback Ben Hunt, despite his decision to walk out on the Broncos for a $6 million deal with St George Illawarra.
The seven-time premier coach was made aware of Hunt’s decision to join the Dragons two days ago, shortly before the news became official that the halfback had accepted a five-year offer.
Bennett has told Broncos officials he wants — and will insist — Hunt stays at the Broncos to play out the final year of his contract in Brisbane.
Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has backed departing half Ben Hunt in his final year at the club
The coach has previously released players who have signed at rival clubs and once famously dropped Justin Hodges to reserve grade when he signed with the Roosters way back in 2001.
Bennett, though, will ensure Hunt remains at Brisbane until the end of the 2017 season.
Broncos officials have also refused to release their star half to link with St George Illawarra ahead of schedule.
This comes as former Dragons captain Mark Coyne backed Hunt’s signing as potentially the key to ending the Red V’s woes in attack.
“I think Ben will be a nice acquisition,” Coyne told The Sunday Telegraph.
“He is a quality player and the fact he is a Queenslander is good.
“I’ve always liked Queenslanders coming to the club.
“I think Ben is a great signing and he will add a lot to the club when he gets there.”
Dragons high performance coach Mark Coyne is pleased with the signing of Hunt
Coyne is on a four-person committee designed to improve the Dragons’ high performance.
He said he was fully focused on helping the club improve after finishing 2016 in a disappointing 11th place.
“No one likes to see the club end up where they were last year,” he said.
“There are lots of people that want to try and contribute and make the club perform better.
“I’m happy to be trying to play a part with that.
“They’ve got some really good kids coming through, so hopefully they get the opportunity to get a bit of experience this year.”
Meanwhile, Broncos legend Allan Langer has called on the club to develop its own replacement for the departing Hunt rather than enter the market for a new halfback.
Langer, who is on the Broncos’ coaching staff, did not blame Hunt for accepting the lucrative over.
“If you’re offered that money, it’s difficult to say no,” he said.
Hunt will be looking to finish his time in Brisbane with a big year
Hunt was at yesterday’s Broncos’ members day at Suncorp Stadium, where supporters wished him well on his move to the Dragons in 2018.
Langer tipped Hunt to have no problems concentrating on his Brisbane duties this season despite the hype about his move south next year.
“He’s professional and he’s a great player, so I don’t think it’ll worry him too much,” he said.
When the time comes for Hunt to leave, Langer hopes the Broncos do not look outside their current squad to find a halves partner for Anthony Milford.
“We’ve got Kodi Nikorima here, we’ve got Benji Marshall, so we’ll see what happens next year,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll develop what we’ve got.”
Originally published as Bennett backs Hunt despite Dragons deal
Matt Logue, The Daily TelegraphJanuary 23, 2017 1:43pm
Subscriber only
WAYNE Bennett has vowed to stand by halfback Ben Hunt, despite his decision to walk out on the Broncos for a $6 million deal with St George Illawarra.
The seven-time premier coach was made aware of Hunt’s decision to join the Dragons two days ago, shortly before the news became official that the halfback had accepted a five-year offer.
Bennett has told Broncos officials he wants — and will insist — Hunt stays at the Broncos to play out the final year of his contract in Brisbane.
Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has backed departing half Ben Hunt in his final year at the club
The coach has previously released players who have signed at rival clubs and once famously dropped Justin Hodges to reserve grade when he signed with the Roosters way back in 2001.
Bennett, though, will ensure Hunt remains at Brisbane until the end of the 2017 season.
Broncos officials have also refused to release their star half to link with St George Illawarra ahead of schedule.
This comes as former Dragons captain Mark Coyne backed Hunt’s signing as potentially the key to ending the Red V’s woes in attack.
“I think Ben will be a nice acquisition,” Coyne told The Sunday Telegraph.
“He is a quality player and the fact he is a Queenslander is good.
“I’ve always liked Queenslanders coming to the club.
“I think Ben is a great signing and he will add a lot to the club when he gets there.”
Dragons high performance coach Mark Coyne is pleased with the signing of Hunt
Coyne is on a four-person committee designed to improve the Dragons’ high performance.
He said he was fully focused on helping the club improve after finishing 2016 in a disappointing 11th place.
“No one likes to see the club end up where they were last year,” he said.
“There are lots of people that want to try and contribute and make the club perform better.
“I’m happy to be trying to play a part with that.
“They’ve got some really good kids coming through, so hopefully they get the opportunity to get a bit of experience this year.”
Meanwhile, Broncos legend Allan Langer has called on the club to develop its own replacement for the departing Hunt rather than enter the market for a new halfback.
Langer, who is on the Broncos’ coaching staff, did not blame Hunt for accepting the lucrative over.
“If you’re offered that money, it’s difficult to say no,” he said.
Hunt will be looking to finish his time in Brisbane with a big year
Hunt was at yesterday’s Broncos’ members day at Suncorp Stadium, where supporters wished him well on his move to the Dragons in 2018.
Langer tipped Hunt to have no problems concentrating on his Brisbane duties this season despite the hype about his move south next year.
“He’s professional and he’s a great player, so I don’t think it’ll worry him too much,” he said.
When the time comes for Hunt to leave, Langer hopes the Broncos do not look outside their current squad to find a halves partner for Anthony Milford.
“We’ve got Kodi Nikorima here, we’ve got Benji Marshall, so we’ll see what happens next year,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll develop what we’ve got.”
Originally published as Bennett backs Hunt despite Dragons deal
