![Ben Hunt has requested an immediate release from his Dragons contract. Picture by Adam McLean Ben Hunt has requested an immediate release from his Dragons contract. Picture by Adam McLean](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ViGe8NXxNszpWGz2Wi7TWd/2df6d3d2-056e-44d3-b274-519e31e04656.jpg/r0_0_3026_2017_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Incoming St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan hasn't had long to wait for his first challenge, with Ben Hunt stunning the club with his request for an immediate release from the club.
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Whispers surrounding Hunt's discontent with the club have abounded since the sacking of former coach Anthony Griffin, with whom Hunt shares a close relationship.
It had put the future of the extension he signed in November last year that was meant to keep him in Wollongong until the end of 2025, but the 33-year-old wanting out of the remainder of 2023 is a surprise development.
The revelations first reported by Nine on Saturday came just hours after Flanagan told 2GB's continuous call team that he "won't be letting him go anywhere."
Hunt subsequently confirmed to News Corp. that he has sought a release from his deal.
It was hoped Flanagan's appointment would quell discontent and end the uncertainty around the club that had made the skipper restless given his discussions with joint-venture's next coach prior to his appointment.
It now appears Flanagan has a fight on his hands to hold onto his captain and halfback before he's even got his feet under the Dragons head coach's desk.
Currently in camp with Queensland, Hunt is reportedly in the sights of the Titans who are willing to throw big money at an effort to lure him back north of the Tweed.
The incumbent Test No. 9 has fielded interest from a number of clubs, with the Bulldogs having previously expressed interest in his services a pitch that saw Hunt meet Phil Gould prior to inking his Dragons extension.
The Tigers are also in the market for a halfback after Luke Brooks knocked back an extension offer, though Tim Sheens said he wasn't "going to start a rumour" when asked about Hunt following his side's loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.
The Titans would appear the favourites given Hunt's reported desire to return to Queensland. It's a frustrating development and the Dragons given Hunt only inked a fresh two-year contract extension at the end of last season that held no guarantees that Griffin would remain coach.
The club then had move to assure Jayden Sullivan he had a future at the club after Hunt's re-signing prompted the Steelers product to request a release from his deal that runs to the end of 2025.
Flanagan said he won't talk at length with Hunt until he leaves Maroons camp following Wednesday's Origin II clash in Brisbane, but expressed no interest in releasing the incumbent Test hooker.
"Well, from the club's perspective Ben Hunt will be there," Flanagan told 2GB
"He's got a contract, I spoke to Ben before I actually signed because I didn't want to 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 OK.
"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."
Far from letting Hunt go, Flanagan said he'll seek his captain's counsel in an effort to rebuild the club in the same way he leant on Paul Gallen through the Sharks premiership era.
"I met with him and, and spoke to him about our relationship and how I need the captain of the club to help me in recruitment and retention," Flanagan said.
"He's playing Origin so the conversations that he has with potential players to come to the club is crucial."
Flanagan will see out the season in his current role as assistant to Anthony Seibold at the Sea Eagles, but said he will start reaching out to current Dragons players as he looks to reshape the roster.
"I'm meeting a couple of players over the weekend and just filling them in where I see them," Flanagan said.
"It's obviously only been a week but I'm lucky that I had a bit of an insight into the roster 18 months, two years ago and it hasn't changed a great deal.
"I've got a bit of a heads up there and I'll work hard, when I've got time away from Manly, I'll get all those things in place.
"They've got a job to do this year under the current coach (Ryan Carr) and I'm not going to butt in there, that's for sure.
"Definitely recruitment and retention, I'll be doing that behind the scenes and making sure that where we can improve, we will improve.
The club made one decision on that front on Sunday, releasing prop Josh Kerr from the remainder of his deal to link with the Dolphins immediately. Kerr had inked a deal with the NRL's new franchise from 2024 but will now make an immediate switch.
"We had one spot left in our top 30, and for it to be a local junior coming home to play is a great story," Dolphins' chief executive Terry Reader said.
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