NRL Fantasy 2023 Part 82 - Baggie Time

St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt’s future is again under the spotlight.

The Dragons star speaks with Michael Carayannis after being picked in the PM’s XIII team to finally clear the air and set the record straight about his commitment to the club.

Full interview below.

Michael Carayannis: Can you put to bed where you will be in 2024?

Ben Hunt: I’ll be at the Dragons. I’ve had a number of meetings with Flanno (Shane Flanagan) now. That’s where I’m going to be.

MC: Are you being held hostage? Have you got your head around being there in 2024?

BH: I’ve got my head around it for sure. I wouldn’t say I’m being held hostage. That’s a bit harsh. I have had to accept it in a way. I am going to be there.

MC: When fans hear that they are a bit concerned about your commitment and your desire to be there. Can you put that aside and give your assurances that you will be all in?

BH: I can. I have shown that I can do that. Whatever team I’m in, I never want to let my teammates down. I have a lot of good mates at the Dragons and a lot of great footballers that are there.

MC: Can you understand the angst?

BH: I can understand it from a fan point of view. I can assure the fans that I will always put my best foot forward. I’ll come back to pre-season in good shape and I’ll train hard.

MC: Can you find the enjoyment?

BH: I think you can but it comes down to winning games. It’s hard to enjoy your footy when you keep losing back to back games. I don’t care who you are, it’s tough to really enjoy it and get out of bed every day and bouncing into training every day. It does get hard. That’s a great thing about the off-season, you can get away and completely freshen up you come back to an environment with a new coach and a lot of changes it will be a fresh start. It will be enjoyable.

MC: Can your mind change. We are talking 2024. 2025 is a little open-ended but can your mind change?

BH: Of course it can. There’s a lot of things that I think need to happen to make that change. I don’t want to go into but there is a lot that needs to happen.

MC: Do you think you can still be captain of the club?

BH: I still think I am the best person to do it for the club. If I’m at the club I will always play my best footy and try my hardest. I am the guy who can lead our team. I’ve got the respect of the players and I can still do the job.

MC: Have you addressed this with the players?

BH: Only right at the start when news broke. I just said I was committed to playing out the season and doing my best for the club and not letting any of you guys down. That was it.

MC: How is your relationship with Shane Flanagan?

BH: I’ve always had a good relationship with Flanno since his time there as an assistant coach. We’ve always gotten along really well. We communicate well. There has never been any issues with Flanno. It has nothing to do with him. I’m actually looking forward to learning from him and seeing what it’s like to have him as a head coach.

MC: He has been quite public about you not going anywhere and turning you into his. How has that been?

BH: We’ve caught up a handful of times now and discussed lots of things. We’ve had very open conversations with Flanno. He knows where I am at. I understand where he is and what he is trying to do. There is a good relationship there. I am looking forward to it.

MC: In your head it seems you have a pretty clear indication of where you think the club needs to get to in a pretty short time for you to feel comfortable?

BH: In my head there is a place we need to get to and it’s a long way away from where we are now. Flanno is the right guy to do it for sure. He has proven it in the past. It doesn’t matter what it is, he will get the job done.

MC: Do you regret re-signing?

BH: Yes in a way I do but also there is a part of me that doesn’t. As a rugby league player you like the security. You have to only look recently with guys like Ryan Papenhuyzen. The game can spit you out really quick. There is a part of me that doesn’t but there is a part that does.

MC: Would the situation be different if Anthony Griffin was still coach?

BH: I honestly don’t know. It’s not something I have put too much thought into. That’s a tough one.