Nestrata Jubilee Stadium: Ben Hunt all but won the Dally M medal and reminded St George Illawarra why they must do everything they can to tie him down to a long-term deal.
Hunt had a hand in a couple of tries as the Dragons ended Brisbane’s faint finals hopes with a 22-12 victory.
The Dragons missed the finals yet again, and farewelled suspended favourite son Tariq Sims, but at least they have Hunt for another season.
Hunt, 32, wants to sign a two-year extension on top of next year’s deal that would take him through until the end of 2025 when he is 35.
The Broncos could even consider cutting prop Payne Haas loose and use the $875,000 he stands to collect next year on a package to lure Hunt home.
Hunt and Adam Reynolds would forge one of the most experienced halves pairing in the NRL.
Hunt was a hero during the Queensland Origin series, and is now in the box seat to win the game’s top gong. James Tedesco made things interesting with his own starring performance – and three likely Dally M votes – 24 hours earlier for the Roosters.
The Dragons finish the season on a high.Credit:Getty
The future of coach Anthony Griffin is safe for now, and he can thank his good mate and fellow Queenslander Hunt for notching his share of wins for the Dragons.
It was a Hunt 40/20 before the break that put the Dragons on the attack. Brisbane had started to gain the upper hand until Hunt launched his sixth 40/20 for the season.
Mat Feagai scored off the next set to give the Dragons 10-6 half-time lead.
Hunt then held the ball up and drew Reynolds out of the defensive line before passing for Cody Ramsey to score.
He even popped up with a try-saving tackle on Penrith-bound forward Zac Hosking.
The result was sealed when Feagai scored a breathtaking long-range try that featured no fewer than eight or nine attempted Brisbane tackles.
The Dragons’ win means Canberra are assured eighth spot, regardless of what happens at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon against the Wests Tigers.
There are no notable signings that will be added to the Red V roster next year. A few of their rookies, including Talatau Amone, Tyrell Sloan and Feagai, will all be better for the hitouts.
The Broncos will devote plenty of hours over the summer discussing the merits of sticking with Kevin Walters.
Walters has one year to run on his contract and a club such as Brisbane, with its resources and long history of success, will be seething they will not feature in September a third straight year.
Pat Carrigan was excellent in his return from a four-match hip-drop tackle ban. Carrigan had more than 20 runs for nearly 200m. Haas, who was able to block out the news his mother had been jailed on Thursday, also punched through plenty of work.
Prop Thomas Flegler was sin-binned and placed on report for what initially looked a dubious front-on tackle on Feagai.
And Kotoni Staggs was binned in the final minutes when he collected former Bronco Andrew McCullough high.
