Bulldogs’ last-ditch crack at signing Ben Hunt as Dragons examine new halfback – Hoops

There’s no question the looming Ben Hunt call on where the Kangaroos and Queensland Origin playmaker lands next season remains the biggest decision of the NRL off-season.

Why? Because given the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos and Canterbury Bulldogs are all in the swim for his signature, whoever lands Hunt becomes a lot more of a premiership threat overnight.

We’re tipping Hunt will make a call on his future by this time next week.

He’s already met the Roosters, Broncos and Dolphins, with Bulldogs boss Phil Gould to get the last crack at pitching to the off-contract playmaker later this week.

No disrespect to the Dolphins, who seem a side on the way up, but with Hunt turning 35 in March it’s hard to see how he’s winning a premiership at the NRL’s newest club.

Which means it’s a shootout between three clubs at a crossroads junction.

The Roosters recovered from losing key playmakers Sam Walker and Brandon Smith to still make a preliminary final last season. Sure, they’ve signed Chad Townsend, but Hunt has far greater appeal.

The Broncos went off the cliff from a grand final to missing the top eight and are likely to be without key playmaker Ezra Mam for the majority if not all of next season.

New coach Michael Maguire likes the Hunt play but will also have to shift a player to make it fly.

The Bulldogs are on the upward swing but there’s no question halfback and fullback are still work-in-progress positions.

Nothing against Toby Sexton or Connor Tracey but Hunt’s experience and leadership makes Canterbury a top-four threat.

Can any of them challenge the real heavyweight contenders in Penrith and the Melbourne Storm next year?

Probably not but it gives them a better shot.

The Bulldogs are also heavily in the mix for Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen for 2026 but the word out of Melbourne is he’s now likely to stay playing under Craig Bellamy.

The other interesting play is St George Illawarra having a serious look at signing South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias.

New Dragons hooker Damien Cook is a fan of Ilias from his time at the Rabbitohs and the Red V have even gone as far as doing a medical check on the Bunnies playmaker.

Nothing’s going to happen in the immediate future but don’t be surprised if St George Illawarra decide to also add Ilias to new recruits Cook, Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes.

As for Hunt, he’s got the pick of the board between the Roosters, Broncos, Bulldogs and Dolphins.

The NRL has also made it clear they’re not going to accept any club trying to sign Hunt on a cut-price deal.

The Dolphins are probably in the strongest financial position, the Roosters have room after the departure of Terrell May while the Broncos would need to offload a player.

Or can Phil Gould produce a last-minute trump card by convincing Hunt to buy into the Bulldogs revolution under Cameron Ciraldo?

Whichever way it lands, it should all be clearer by this time next week.