Ben Hunt hopes to seal a contract extension with St George Illawarra by the end of the week despite his management rejecting the club’s latest offer.
Hunt arrived for the Dally Ms on Wednesday at Royal Randwick, where he was rated the hot favourite to take home the top gong ahead of Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes, Sydney Roosters superstar James Tedesco, and Penrith pair Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards.
The No. 7 has been pushing for a two-year extension before he flies out for the World Cup with Australia. And despite the latest setback, Hunt was quietly confident the two parties could seal a deal.
“We’re getting close, we’re very close, and both parties want to get it sorted out before the World Cup,” Hunt said. “I’m sure we’ll get it done this week. I think we’re both thereabouts.
“We’ve got a number, we’re getting there, it will just take some time.
“It’s the way contracts go sometimes. They’re trying to do the best by the club and I’m trying to do the best by myself. The preference is to get it done by [the Cup].”
Early Dally M favourite Ben Hunt.Credit:Getty
Hunt is from Queensland and would be an ideal target for NRL newcomers the Dolphins. But the 32-year-old is desperate for success in the Red V, and has a close association with coach Anthony Griffin.
Hunt and his wife Bridget, and their family, are also settled on the NSW south coast.
“We both know once footy is done we’ll be back in Queensland, but as it stands we’re both happy here,” Hunt said.
Hunt reportedly met with Canterbury supremo Phil Gould last month, but some saw that as ploy to put pressure on the Dragons so they would fast-track contract talks and release the Bulldogs’ real target, Jayden Sullivan.
Hunt tipped Hynes to pip him for the game’s top gong, and a Nathan Cleary-inspired Panthers to win the grand final on Sunday.
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou said after the weekend loss to Penrith he had nothing but respect for the premiers, but “the competitor in me wants to hate Penrith, I really do”. Hunt agreed with the sentiment.
“You sort of get shitty [that] teams are so good and do it for so long, but you also have to respect what they’re doing because it’s pretty impressive,” Hunt said.
“I think it will be the Panthers on Sunday; just because of their consistency, the experience in the team and the way Cleary is playing. I think he will get it done.
“He’s extremely consistent, the good games and bad games, there’s only a tiny [difference] between them. It’s hard to get him on a bad day.”
Wests Tigers skipper James Tamou was spotted on the red carpet. He told the Herald he was unsure if he would play on, and needed to tell the NRL on Sunday if he would be join the “departing” or “retiring” brigade.
There has been interest from Super League clubs Leigh and Huddersfield, but Tamou has taken the past couple of weeks to assess his next move.
“There’s been some interest, but I haven’t discussed it with my manager and have wanted to use the time to spend it with family and the kids,” Tamou said.
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