How Brisbane Broncos convinced Ben Hunt to backflip on family ...

The Broncos pulled out all the stops to convince Ben Hunt to rejoin the club he left to join the Dragons in 2018. While a return to Red Hill was always on the cards since he secured a release from the final year of his Dragons contract, it was revealed that the halfback preferred to stay in Sydney over relocating up north due to his family.

Earlier this month, News Corp reported the 34-year-old would rather stay in Sydney as his family was happy and settled, a revelation that saw the Roosters and Bulldogs emerge as favourites to land the veteran halfback. However, Brisbane refused to go down without a fight, with Michael Maguire and the Broncos not only offering him a role at the club post his playing career as part of the contract offer, but also showing him what he has missed since leaving Red Hill.

The Broncos held two meetings with Hunt, including a clandestine follow-up trip to Sydney. But it was their first catch-up at Brisbane's high-performance centre that pulled at the halfback's heartstrings and reinstated Brisbane as his preferred destination, according to The Courier Mail.

Ben Hunt's family were reportedly wanting to stay in Sydney but the allure of Brisbane was too much to pass up. Image: Getty/Instagram

When he walked into the $27 million facility hand in hand with his wife Bridget a fortnight ago, Hunt was guided upstairs to level two where he was set to meet with Broncos boss Dave Donaghy, Maguire and chairman Karl Morris. As the couple went up the final stair Hunt was greeted with a sight and smell he knew all too well. Veteran club staffer Tony Spencer was cooking up a BBQ overlooking the Broncos playing field, a 36-year tradition after their weekly captain's run.

Growing up in Central Queensland, Hunt has never been enticed by fancy restaurants and cars, he is a simple man who prioritises family and mateship and the smell of the barbecue brought back floods of memories. In the days that followed, Hunt reportedly received a two-year deal worth around $600,000 annually and a job upon retirement in 2027 from the Roosters. He also fielded an offer for $1.4 million over two years from the Dolphins.

But it was his initial trip to Queensland that convinced him to return to Red Hill in an attempt to finally fulfil a lifelong dream of winning an NRL premiership. On Tuesday, Hunt agreed to a deal worth around $600,000 a season to return home to Brisbane in 2025, with the club also offering him a job following his retirement.

Ben Hunt signed a two-year deal worth around $600,000 a year with the Broncos. Image: Getty

The Hunt heist has seen Brisbane emerge as serious NRL premiership contenders as the club hunts to end their 19-year premiership drought. The 34-year-old famously dropped the extra-time kick-off that led to Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston slotting a title-clinching field goal.

And now there is a sense of romanticism in Hunt's Red Hill return as he has a chance to right the wrongs of the past and go out by leading the Broncos to their first title since 2006. "This is very special," Hunt said.

"To be able to finish my career at the Broncos is something that I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do and I’ll cherish it. It's definitely a club that has meant a lot to me, I’ve been involved with the Broncos since I was 13.

"I’ve been away for seven years but I’ve watched every single Broncos game since I’ve been gone - I never thought this would happen, so I’m pretty excited. The chance now to head back and chase that premiership together, is a dream come true. It was a tough decision for myself and my family, but my heart was really always driving me back to the Broncos, and in the end, it became really clear."

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With Ezra Mam facing suspension for the start of the 2025 season, Hunt is expected to slot in at five-eighth alongside captain Adam Reynolds. When Mam returns, the Australian utility could play in the No.9 role or be used as a utility off the bench. Either way, with Hunt at the club, Brisbane now are serious title contenders.

"I would expect Benny Hunt to be playing in the halves with no Ezra," great Bryan Fletcher told SEN on Tuesday. "If you have the calibre of Ben Hunt available you'd be mad not to go for him and at 600k he's a bargain."

And Reynolds says the club are already working out the best way to play with two traditional halfbacks in the starting side. "I'm sure we'd sit down and work out a game plan," Reynolds said. "We've got some smart assistant coaches here who are working in the background, figuring all that out now."