Speaking candidly about his relationship with former club captain Ben Hunt, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said the two “never had an argument.”
For the majority of their time together, Flanagan and Hunt’s relationship was a hot issue. It appeared to approach a breaking point a month ago when it was reported that the star halfback did not want to resume preseason training with the Dragons.
Despite Hunt’s 34-year-old contract still having one year left on it, the Dragons and Hunt parted ways within days of that story.
The Broncos, Dolphins, and Bulldogs all reportedly interested in Hunt’s talents, although he is now occupied with finding a new team.
Flanagan recently shared his thoughts on the aftermath in a teaser video for a future episode of The Bye Round with James Graham podcast, despite his hectic search for a replacement No. 7.
“Ben Hunt and I have never argued,” Flanagan remarked.
“Even though we’ve always gotten along well, I’m at ease with it because I think Ben wants it and we’re at ease with it now.
We weren’t intending to re-sign him for ’26, so it would have been difficult to deal with everything if he had returned this year. For the entire year, it would have been covered by the media.
I simply believe that Ben and I will be happy in the end. I would shake Ben Hunt’s hand and continue working when I saw him.
Given previous events, Flanagan’s remarks might surprise some supporters.
Flanagan was seen on tape having a heated discussion with Hunt in the sheds after a defeat towards the end of the season.
Despite early preparations for an extension, Hunt later stated in an October interview that the club is “not overly keen to keep me.”
Reports also emerged that Hunt copped a scathing end of season review in which his $1 million salary was brought up.
Flanagan then implied Hunt leaked to that to the media.
“Let me be really clear on the review bit and what was said in the review,” he told the The Sydney Morning Herald.
“There were three people in the review: Me, Dean Young and Ben. I can guarantee you, Dean Young didn’t speak to any media and I haven’t spoken to any media about the review.
“And what’s being said is incorrect. There was no discussion about Ben’s salary and all that sort of stuff. That’s just absolutely rubbish.”
It also didn’t help their relationship when Hunt urged the club to sign Clint Gutherson to play five-eighth — the position Flanagan’s son, Kyle, plays.
Ultimately there was no path forward for Hunt and the Dragons with the club officially terminating his contract on October 30.
“This decision was not easy and was not taken lightly, but we need to do what is best for the club at this time… No one player, person, staff member or coach is bigger than the club,” CEO Ryan Webb said in a statement.
Hunt told The Sydney Morning Herald that he was “relieved” that the lengthy story with the Dragons was finished as he gets ready for his next—and probably final—phase of his NRL career.
Although he claimed to have never had any problems with Flanagan, the coach’s silence following his departure seemed to contradict this.
“I didn’t have a drama, but I haven’t heard from Shane, which I suppose tells something about the state of affairs. It’s true that things reached a point where something had to happen. Hunt told The Sydney Morning Herald, “I didn’t want to return and train with the club during the preseason.”
According to reports, the Broncos are the front-runners to acquire Hunt, while the Dragons are considering Lachlan Ilias as a potential replacement.
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