B Hunt

Im a member on a few Dragons forums. It would appear that our poor cpt looks like he has copped the ire of the majority of supporters again this week mainly because of his kicking game and last play options. My personal opinion is, that it is a bit harsh.

Anyone who has played or coached RL would understand the following comments.

Playmakers rely on the engine room going forward and consistently making the advantage line, we certainly dont. This then allows our playmakers time to run our attacking structures or play eyes up football. It is also important in the last kick/play options especially where on the field you are at that time, usually we are in our own half.

Yes his kicking game has suffered but for a team running currently 13th, Hunt tops the try assist ladder with 13 way ahead of the next player on 9, that is an impressive stat. We don't have the necessary big bodied props like a AFB or a NAS.

If you compare stats of our prop rotation with the top props this confirms that:

F Molo avg 11.25 runs a game @ 95m a game.
B Lawrie avg 11.75 runs a game @ 98m a game. More recently
H Sele avg 9 runs a game @ 80m a game.
In comparison the benchmark props this season are:
AFB avg 19 runs @ 190m
J Tapine avg 17 runs @ 170m.

See the difference? We just don't rate. Our props are trying and give their best everytime they pull on a 1st grade jumper, any player that makes 1st grade has realised their dream and should be congratulated.

Forwards win games, the backs decide by how much. It has always been the way in my 50 plus years of playing and coaching. To simply blame one or two players is erroneous. RL is a team sport, there is no i in team. Just my views.
 

Eric

Staff
Im a member on a few Dragons forums. It would appear that our poor cpt looks like he has copped the ire of the majority of supporters again this week mainly because of his kicking game and last play options. My personal opinion is, that it is a bit harsh.

Anyone who has played or coached RL would understand the following comments.

Playmakers rely on the engine room going forward and consistently making the advantage line, we certainly dont. This then allows our playmakers time to run our attacking structures or play eyes up football. It is also important in the last kick/play options especially where on the field you are at that time, usually we are in our own half.

Yes his kicking game has suffered but for a team running currently 13th, Hunt tops the try assist ladder with 13 way ahead of the next player on 9, that is an impressive stat. We don't have the necessary big bodied props like a AFB or a NAS.

If you compare stats of our prop rotation with the top props this confirms that:

F Molo avg 11.25 runs a game @ 95m a game.
B Lawrie avg 11.75 runs a game @ 98m a game. More recently
H Sele avg 9 runs a game @ 80m a game.
In comparison the benchmark props this season are:
AFB avg 19 runs @ 190m
J Tapine avg 17 runs @ 170m.

See the difference? We just don't rate. Our props are trying and give their best everytime they pull on a 1st grade jumper, any player that makes 1st grade has realised their dream and should be congratulated.

Forwards win games, the backs decide by how much. It has always been the way in my 50 plus years of playing and coaching. To simply blame one or two players is erroneous. RL is a team sport, there is no i in team. Just my views.
I've long been a defender of Hunt. Bottom line is he isn't a good playmaker or game manager. The longer the team relies on him for that, the longer it will struggle. Just my views.

Flanno and Co should be looking at what juniors Penrith, Dolphins, Melbourne, Manly or another club with a halfback not going anywhere for a few years.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
I've long been a defender of Hunt. Bottom line is he isn't a good playmaker or game manager. The longer the team relies on him for that, the longer it will struggle. Just my views.

Flanno and Co should be looking at what juniors Penrith, Dolphins, Melbourne, Manly or another club with a halfback not going anywhere for a few years.
Don't forget there are two halves in the team.
 

RedV01

SGI NSW Cup
Yep but only one is allowed to do everything ......
Yes! Coach must have told him to play like that. Otherwise he'd be given an almighty baking and told to stop. At this point, may as well use Bird at 5/8. At least he can run hard.
 
I've long been a defender of Hunt. Bottom line is he isn't a good playmaker or game manager. The longer the team relies on him for that, the longer it will struggle. Just my views.

Flanno and Co should be looking at what juniors Penrith, Dolphins, Melbourne, Manly or another club with a halfback not going anywhere for a few years.
Honestly my point is when you are playing behind a pack that doesn't allow you time like in any job you will be prone to making mistakes. The difference here is when you do make a mistake it's in front of a live ground audience and tens of thousands watching on TV. It's not an easy gig.
 

Eric

Staff
Honestly my point is when you are playing behind a pack that doesn't allow you time like in any job you will be prone to making mistakes. The difference here is when you do make a mistake it's in front of a live ground audience and tens of thousands watching on TV. It's not an easy gig.
True but Hunt is the one on the big money....... Actually scratch that, I think Frank Molo is also on pretty good money. I guess clubs needs a good prop and a good playmaking, game managing half.
 

DragonsTragic

SGI Jersey Flegg
And so begins the annual farce where our half-back and captain proves himself to be one of the top 2 or 3 dummy halves in the NRL, highlighting the fact that we pay him as a top 2 or 3 half-back, which he is not, sadly, but we pay him too much to play him at 9 and we don't have any better option at 7.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
I hope this doesn't make anyone melt down but Ben Hunt is at it again. Talking about how he will walk if the Dragons offer isn't good enough for one more year after his current contract ends. I know there is a shortage of good halves but if Flanno isn't a complete moron, he will call Hunt's bluff. Make him play the final year of his contract so the club has this year and next to organise his replacement. It's not rocket science!
 

Just a Mug Fan

SGI NSW Cup
I hope this doesn't make anyone melt down but Ben Hunt is at it again. Talking about how he will walk if the Dragons offer isn't good enough for one more year after his current contract ends. I know there is a shortage of good halves but if Flanno isn't a complete moron, he will call Hunt's bluff. Make him play the final year of his contract so the club has this year and next to organise his replacement. It's not rocket science!
Click bait headline again
This is the quote from Hunt

I am not closing the door on anything at all.

“At the moment, I’m happy at the Dragons and we’ll work through it.

“There’s no talks at the moment.

“I am trying to focus on a few other things at the Dragons and get our team going in the right direction.

“We’re in the Origin period now so that (Dragons contract talks) might be on the backburner, there’s no rush for anything down there.

“We’ll sort it out.”
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
Click bait headline again
This is the quote from Hunt

I am not closing the door on anything at all.

“At the moment, I’m happy at the Dragons and we’ll work through it.

“There’s no talks at the moment.

“I am trying to focus on a few other things at the Dragons and get our team going in the right direction.

“We’re in the Origin period now so that (Dragons contract talks) might be on the backburner, there’s no rush for anything down there.

“We’ll sort it out.”
True enough.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup

HUNT FOR NEW CLUB?

St George Illawarra’s finals hopes are all but gone. Is Ben Hunt’s future at the club now under the same duress?

Cameras captured the moment Shane Flanagan unleashed a tirade at the skipper after the Dragons’ shocking 44-40 loss to Parramatta with a finals berth on the line.

Flanagan was seen dressing down a despondent Hunt in the sheds at full-time in scenes that will only add uncertainty about Hunt’s future at the Red V.

Hunt was very vocal in agitating for a release from his deal to move to Queensland before Flanagan arrived at the Dragons.

The seasoned coach managed to smooth things over and the club even began talks to extend Hunt beyond 2025.

But Hunt, who has one year left on his deal, has made no secret of wanting out and the fiery dressing room bake could be a tipping point in the delicate relationship the 34-year old has with the club.
 

TheRev

SGI Jersey Flegg
o Not sure what the state of the relationship is, I think Flanno was gutted after the game.. because he really wanted to get 1 more year out of Hunt so he could have some time to chase halfbacks both before and after Nov 1.. and line them up for 2026, but if Hunt is not OK, thats a big headache.. and tbf I dont think those 2 losses are on Hunt alone.. errors across the roster killed both games for us.

o If he has to move Hunt on for 2025 (if things were bad enough).. he is not a position of power for negotiations at this late stage.. and hes gonna have to put a lot of pressure on 'someone like a Boyd or god knows who else' to come in and run this team.. I dont know if Kyle has the leadership to lead men.. it might even have to be a temporary halfback for 12mths..

o The other option is he keeps Hunt around but @6 without the (c) or in the reserves.. hes still a guy with a rly good skillset, its not the skillset of a 7.. and I dunno about paying some other club to take him.. thats a lot of coin.. its rly flipped the script on what could have been a really positive next few weeks and offseason of recruiting.. now its messy.
 

GCRV

SGI NSW Cup
o Not sure what the state of the relationship is, I think Flanno was gutted after the game.. because he really wanted to get 1 more year out of Hunt so he could have some time to chase halfbacks both before and after Nov 1.. and line them up for 2026, but if Hunt is not OK, thats a big headache.. and tbf I dont think those 2 losses are on Hunt alone.. errors across the roster killed both games for us.

o If he has to move Hunt on for 2025 (if things were bad enough).. he is not a position of power for negotiations at this late stage.. and hes gonna have to put a lot of pressure on 'someone like a Boyd or god knows who else' to come in and run this team.. I dont know if Kyle has the leadership to lead men.. it might even have to be a temporary halfback for 12mths..

o The other option is he keeps Hunt around but @6 without the (c) or in the reserves.. hes still a guy with a rly good skillset, its not the skillset of a 7.. and I dunno about paying some other club to take him.. thats a lot of coin.. its rly flipped the script on what could have been a really positive next few weeks and offseason of recruiting.. now its messy.
Hunt gets too much blame but he is the highest paid player. He is paid the big money to not play like he did lat Saturday. And it's only speculation he still wants out if Flanno wants him out.
 
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It's a difficult situation. To really access the situation the question that needs to be asked and answered is, " Has the cpt lost the dressing room "? In my day the coach would give his half time spiel then I'd leave the sheds . I had an expectation that the cpt would then address the team and out they would run. To my eye he doesn't have the full support of the team. The way he has conducted himself on the field when under pressure especially in the last 2 games I feel supports my assertion. So in saying that I don't believe that we can build a competitive top 8 team around our current 6/7 what is next? Well , I haven't seen enough of our reserves half back or juniors to comment on their ability to take over Hunts role. Therefore you have to look at an experienced play maker who is available next season. So Jake Clifford, Jackson Hastings, Drew Hutchinson, Sean O'Grady, Brad Schneider, Aiden Sezer. Coaching, it's a tough gig.
 

TheRev

SGI Jersey Flegg
100% coaching is rly tough gig... a lot of the roster that he has inherited.. combined with how difficult it is to attract talent in 2024.. but no position is more difficult than finding a half decent and experienced halfback... they are almost non-existent.

Note: They could take the captaincy away from Ben which might solve the dilemma ur referring too.. but would the resulting dynamic be a complete mess, especially if Ben is still the halfback...

Rly curious to see how they come out this week against Canberra, the pressure is off and they should want to make up for last week.. and if they win it could get them a few more spots up the ladder which is "not nothing".. not to mention better vibes coming into the off-season.. will be rly interesting to see the body language, especially if the opposition are leading.
 
100% coaching is rly tough gig... a lot of the roster that he has inherited.. combined with how difficult it is to attract talent in 2024.. but no position is more difficult than finding a half decent and experienced halfback... they are almost non-existent.

Note: They could take the captaincy away from Ben which might solve the dilemma ur referring too.. but would the resulting dynamic be a complete mess, especially if Ben is still the halfback...

Rly curious to see how they come out this week against Canberra, the pressure is off and they should want to make up for last week.. and if they win it could get them a few more spots up the ladder which is "not nothing".. not to mention better vibes coming into the off-season.. will be rly interesting to see the body language, especially if the opposition are leading.
Well if he's on our books for 25 it's really tough especially if you remove the c from next to his name. Do you know what happened to young Volkman? He was being trumpeted as our next play maker before his injury.
 
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