The Broncos have made a huge call on the future of Ben Hunt, extending the experienced premiership winner until the end of next season.
There was talk earlier in the season that Hunt could consider retiring, while the signing of Jonah Pezet and recent extension of Tom Duffy also signalled the Broncos could prioritise building for the future.
Instead, they have found a way to both do that and keep Hunt at Red Hill, with the 36-year-old officially staying put another year.
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The question moving forward is where he will play with Billy Walters, Blake Mozer and Cory Paix all options at hooker while Duffy and Pezet join Ezra Mam as contenders to play in the halves next year.
Of course, with Adam Reynolds retiring the Broncos could turn to Hunt as a more experienced option to fill the leadership void, but there is a genuine question as to whether the 36-year-old can be as effective in the modern, fast-paced game.
Code Sports reporter Brent Read said he was “surprised” by the news and that his “issue” with the decision was what message it sent soon-to-be new recruit Pezet.
“Obviously they’ve been in talks with him and he wanted to go around another year, but they’ve still got Billy Walters’ (deal) to do. I believe they haven’t done that deal yet. And Ben’s form hasn’t been great. He’s 36,” Read said on NRL 360.
“My issue was he’s publicly come out and said he wants to be the halfback. You’ve got Jonah Pezet going there next year. You brought him to play halfback and you’ve got a bloke that is publicly saying I want to play halfback, you’ve re-signed him for another year.
“I just think it puts pressure (on him) that’s not necessary.”
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Read did later add that his understanding is Hunt is not the type to “cause drama”, while in Brisbane’s defence Pezet has been hardly convincing at Parramatta this year and battled injuries, so it makes some sense to have optionality.
But like Read, veteran rugby league reporter Dean Ritchie questioned if the decision could “unsettle” Pezet before he even arrives at Red Hill.
“It would intimidate the kid to think he’s gone up there, probably under the proviso he would be the starting halfback… and Ben’s a winner. I get that he wants to play first grade and wants to start. But I think for Ben to publicly say that would unsettle the young (halfback),” Ritchie said.
Now, it helped that Pezet’s agent Braith Anasta was on the 360 panel to respond to those questions.
For him, speaking not as Pezet’s agent but in the hypothetical scenario that he was working at the Broncos, he said an assessment on Hunt’s extension would ultimately come down to price.
“If it was the right price, he’s an experienced player and can play a number of positions… I think it really depends on the dollar amount,” Anasta said.
“I think it’s unlikely he’s going to play seven. Look at his form this year. He’s getting older every year, that’s the reality…. they will find value for him, if it’s at the right price.”
Of course, as much as Pezet was signed at the time as Brisbane’s halfback of the future, that was before Duffy’s emergence and now he has earned a two-year extension.
In fact, premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk told foxsports.com.au on Monday he would have Duffy in front of Pezet in the pecking order for next year.
“The times Duffy has played, he hasn’t been overawed but he has stood up and taken extra credit, particularly when he played for Adam Reynolds, he kicked and ran really well,” Cronk said.
“There’s enough in me right now that says Thomas Duffy is probably the number seven for Brisbane next year ahead of Jonah Pezet.”
This article was originally published by Fox Sports and reproduced with permission.
Originally published as Broncos star makes huge call as future confirmed following major speculation