Flanagan responds to Hunt bombshell after Dragons star's shock ...

Dragons halfback Ben Hunt is reportedly set to ask the club for a release in a bombshell move following Shane Flanagan’s appointment as coach in 2024.

Flanagan was named St George Illawarra’s next coach on Thursday, but according to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler that hasn’t been enough to persuade Hunt to stay.

Foxsports.com.au contacted Flanagan following Weidler’s tweet and the incoming Dragons coach said it was his belief that the request was made weeks ago.

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Flanagan also told The Daily Telegraph that Hunt, who is currently in Maroons camp, will not be released from his contract which runs until 2025.

“He’ll be captain and our halfback and we’ll move forward,” Flanagan said.

“He’s got a contract. I haven’t bothered him because he’s in Origin camp but we’ll chat after the game.”

Earlier on Saturday, Flanagan said on radio he would not be releasing the club’s star halfback,

Hunt has reportedly received an informal approach from the Titans, who are willing to table a mammoth $900,000-per-season offer.

Gold Coast high performance advisor Mal Meninga said the club would “certainly be interested” in Hunt but emphasised only if he became available.

“It’s all hearsay, he’s got to ask for a release and we don’t know (if he’ll do that),” Meninga said on Fox League.

“Flanno has made it very clear that he wants him to stay so it’s going to be a conversation that will take place when Ben’s back from his Origin commitments, when he goes back to the club.

“If I’m Flanno I’m saying I want him to stay, he is contracted to the club as well. It’s going to be an interesting watch this space for the next few weeks.

“I sort of represent the Titans and we’d certainly be interested in talking to Ben Hunt if he became available, it really is that simple.”

The Bulldogs have also been linked with the representative star’s services as Phil Gould continues to build a competitive roster in Belmore.

Hunt is contracted until the end of 2025 and Flanagan revealed he had already sat down with his halfback and he “won’t be letting him go”.

“Well, from a club’s perspective Ben Hunt will be there,” Flanagan said on 2GB.

“He’s got a contract, I spoke to Ben before I actually signed because I didn’t want to obviously become the Dragons coach and then our halfback wanting out of the club, and he was fine with all that if I was to get the job.

“He’s in Origin camp at the moment obviously, and I’m not going to worry him while he’s in there, I’ll get to him next week and I’m sure that’s okay.

“But from the club’s perspective, he’s our captain, he’s our halfback and we need him, I won’t be letting him go anywhere.”

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Flanagan has previously worked in the club’s recruitment and retention department before joining the Sea Eagles as an assistant coach.

Now the former Sharks coach is set to mastermind a Dragons rebuild and explained he will utilise Hunt’s connections to sign players.

“I met with him and spoke to him about our relationship and how I need the captain of the club to help me with recruitment and retention,” Flanagan said.

“Playing Origin, conversations that he has with potential players to come to the club are very useful.

“Recruitment and retention, I’ll be doing that behind the scenes.

“I’m lucky that I have had a bit of an insight in to the roster, 18 months or two years ago and it hasn’t changed a great deal.

“I’ll work hard and when I’ve got time away from Manly, I’ll get all those things in place.

“The first thing I have got to do is make sure I get the right staff around me, really important our high performance area and all my staff, strength and conditioning is in place.

“I have got to get the best in the business.”

Meanwhile, Flanagan also paid tribute to the Manly club for giving him an opportunity in a coach role once again.

Employed Anthony Seibold’s assistant coach, Flanagan explained he will still be making sure the Sea Eagles make a deep finals run.

“I probably wouldn’t be in this position if I didn’t work at Manly this year to be brutally honest,” Flanagan said.

“Going there and having a really defined row with Anthony Seibold, I think it’s helped me get this next opportunity.

“My main focus is at the moment making sure I don’t drop the ball with Manly.”

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