St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hunt believes the worst thing his club could do is sack coach Anthony Griffin and start again.
“If we get four or five weeks down the road and we start again [with a new coach], it will set this club back a couple of years,” Hunt tells The Sun-Herald.
“That’s what I believe. We need to ride this out.”
The captain and chief playmaker also dreads to think what it would mean for his own future at the joint venture if Griffin is axed.
It is well documented Hunt and Griffin are close: they are Rockhampton boys who first met when Hunt was 17.
“I might hang them [boots] up and disappear into the bush somewhere, and you’ll never see me again,” Hunt says with a laugh.
Dragons captain Ben Hunt and coach Anthony Griffin (inset).
When pressed on what he would really do if Griffin was sacked, the No.7 said: “I honestly can’t comment on it. I’ve been at clubs when coaches do change and all of a sudden the player personnel changes, the new coach comes in and wants different things. I understand a lot can change when there’s a coaching change.
“I’m definitely not saying I’ll ride off into the sunset [with Griffin], but you never know what’s going to happen.”
If Hunt was put on the open market, there would be no shortage of clubs offering him close to $1 million a year or more.
He has been great for the Dragons while the club lurched from one crisis to the next. He ran third in Dally M Medal voting in 2022 after finishing 10th the year before, and has been a mainstay for Queensland and Australia.
Hunt was brilliant in the win over the Dolphins last weekend, and will likely have a big say on whether the Red V beat the Gold Coast on Sunday.
The Dragons have already shown their hand by declaring they will put the feelers out for coaching options for 2023 and beyond. Griffin’s CV will basically update itself in real time based on results.
Regardless of what happens in the coming months, most people consider him a dead-man walking. Hunt is not among them.
“It might have a bit to do with the fact we’re both from Rocky, but I’ve always got along with him,” Hunt says of his loyalty to Griffin. “I love how straight up and down he is. He’ll tell you if you’ve done something good or bad, and you know where you stand.
“I like his coaching style – he’s passionate and wants what’s best for his players.
‘I really believe Hook is doing his best and getting us going in the right direction. He’s the best coach for our club going forward.’
Ben Hunt on Anthony Griffin
“He’s a guy I’ve always been able to relate to really well, and I believe in his coaching style. It’s pretty simple: you work hard, get your job done and you get his respect.
“I definitely get the shits with [the speculation about his future]. I also understand that the NRL is a results-driven business, and it doesn’t matter who you are; if you’re not getting results, things will change for you pretty quickly.
“But I also really believe Hook is doing his best and getting us going in the right direction. He’s the best coach for our club going forward.”
Hunt was paid big money to join the Dragons. Despite the club missing the finals the past four seasons, the halfback has more than aimed up.
When it came to negotiating his latest extension at the end of last year, he could have joined a club entering a premiership window. He didn’t because he believes the Dragons are at that stage, too.
“It can be an easy cop-out for some young guys – if things aren’t going their way, they’ll go somewhere else where they think it might be easier for them,” Hunt said.
“It can be frustrating hearing that. I want to win a comp here. I encourage all the guys here to push for that. If you’re striving to do the best where you are, you’ll be surprised what avenues open up for you.
“I tell them, ‘Let’s go after this year because nobody believes in us, or gives us a chance of making the finals, so let’s go out and prove some people wrong’.
“That’s a genuine belief. I really do believe the next few years for the Dragons will be good years.”
Griffin says Hunt has improved with age, better for the years of experience, while captaincy has taken his game to a new level.
“I’ve known him since he was 17; he’s always had that warm personality and is pretty selfless with his time,” Griffin says. “He’s a good person. He gets along with anyone, and makes a point of building relationships with people.”
Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater describes Hunt as “as good a competitor as I’ve seen”.
Despite Hunt being one of the game’s top earners, Slater said you could argue he was almost underrated.
“People feed off what Ben Hunt does on the footy field,” Slater says. “The best attribute a leader has is being a consistent performer, and that’s what Benny Hunt is.
“He has a great ability to connect with all generations in a footy squad. He’s in his early 30s, so naturally he has a connection with players his age, but he also has an ability to connect with the 19-year-olds and 20-year-olds. He’s a fun, likeable guy with a great sense of humour, and that helps him connect with everyone.
“That’s why I think he’s underrated in terms of being a leader in a football team.
“You can’t pick a Ben Hunt up at Coles. Players like him aren’t everywhere. He’s an ultra-competitive player in a key position with great leadership. When the Dragons signed him, that’s what they were thinking, and that’s exactly what they got.”
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