Broncos veteran Ben Hunt has claimed he is close to re-signing with the club for one more year even though he has suggested he wants to play halfback for the final years of his career. This comes after his friend and former teammate Corey Parker suggested the Broncos might want to move on from the veteran next year.
The 36-year-old veteran has previously hinted he wanted to finish playing his career wearing the No.7 jersey. Hunt has been playing a utility role for the Broncos since joining with most of his appearances coming at dummy-half.
Adam Reynolds is the first-choice halfback, but is retiring at the end of the season. With a number of young stars set to take over the mantle for the Broncos, including incoming Eels playmaker Jonah Pezet, Hunt will have a tough time holding down a halfback role.
Ben Hunt (pictured right) is set to re-sign with the Broncos for one more year. (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Regardless, Hunt indicated he could be set to re-sign and remain at the Broncos where he could become just the second player in the games history to reach 400 NRL games. “It’s pretty close,” the 36-year-old utility said.
“We’re working through it and hoping to probably have it done in the next couple of weeks.” Hunt admitted he would most likely be playing as a back-up No.7 next year, but was ready to embrace the challenge.
“It’s like the old backup quarterback on the bench,” he said. “I’m really excited. I love this club and I’m very grateful that they’re gonna give me the opportunity to go around for another year,” Hunt said. I definitely feel like I’ve still got plenty to give, so I’m glad we could work something out. I’m just taking it year by year at the moment.”
Corey Parker claims Broncos should make brutal move
The veteran is currently on around $550,000 a season, and the double departure of Reynolds and Payne Haas will free up salary cap space at the club. But speaking earlier this month, Broncos great Parker felt that money would be better spent on locking down some of Brisbane’s talented crop of youngsters – and re-signing off-contract hooker Billy Walters – rather than extending Hunt for another year.
“I’m a great mate of Benny Hunt’s,” Parker said on SEN Radio. “But I don’t know that there’s a need to re-sign him – there’s enough people in that organisation to nurture and bring young guys through.
“He would be making $500k minimum; Walters, Pezet, Duffy and the younger brigade can have their money beefed up to hold them at the club. You don’t need a lot to say ‘we see a future with you, you can use some of Hunt’s money’. You have to put yourself as a business first.” Regardless, Parker will be happy for Hunt who appears set to to play the utility role again if called upon next season.
Adam Reynolds set for return against Warriors
Speaking about this weekend’s game against the Warriors for Magic Round, Hunt was happy to have general Reynolds back. “Reyno coming back’s only a boost for our team,” Hunt said.
“Any player we can get back at the moment is good for us, so getting the skipper back in there to lead us around will be good. I can fall back into a bit of a utility role and get put in wherever.”
Ben Hunt (pictured) is looking likely to play the utility role again for Broncos next season.
(Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)