Suggestions Hunt was close to agreeing a deal to join the Roosters may have been wide of the mark.

Canterbury have emerged as strong candidates to sign Ben Hunt after a move from Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould reportedly failed to convince Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to make a switch to the NRL club. News Corp reports that Gould flew down to Melbourne this week for discussions with Papenhuyzen himself, but failed in an attempt to convince the Storm No.1 to come home to Sydney and join the Bulldogs from 2026.

Papenhuyzen is contracted with Melbourne until the end of next season but is free to negotiate with rival clubs from 2026 onwards. The 26-year-old was told he’d have to take a pay cut to stay in Melbourne on a multi-year deal with his new offer dropping from $950,000 to $750,000 per season. However, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Papenhuyzen is on the verge of agreeing to a one-year extension worth around $800,000.

The Bulldogs were among a number of clubs such as the Dragons and Eels who were reportedly interested in Papenhuyzen’s services and Gould revealed that Canterbury had around $1.6 million of salary cap space to potentially blow their rivals out of the water. But Gould’s overtures reportedly weren’t enough to convince Papenhuyzen to make a move there, although the fact he’s only extending for one more season in Melbourne is telling.

Uncertainty around Craig Bellamy’s long-term future could be behind Papenhuyzen’s thinking, with the veteran Storm coach hinting at retirement on a number of occasions previously. It also throws up an intriguing situation with young gun fullback and teammate Sua Fa’alogo, who has been touted as Papenhuyzen’s long-term successor at the Storm.

Fa’alogo only this year signed an extension with the Storm until the end of 2028. But it’s understood the 21-year-old has an agreement with Melbourne that he’d be free to speak with rival clubs if Papenhuyzen extended long-term, which does not appear to be the case. Fa’alogo has emerged as one of the most exciting youngsters in the game and rival clubs would be lining up to sign the livewire if he were to become available.

Bulldogs emerge as frontrunners to land Ben Hunt

While Papenhuyzen looks set to stay in Melbourne after snubbing Gould and the Bulldogs it has seen Canterbury emerge as frontrunners for the prized signature of Hunt. The former Dragons captain looked to be nearing a move to the cashed-up Roosters, who reportedly viewed him as a replacement Brandon Smith at hooker, with the Kiwi star set to be sidelined for the first half of the new season with an ACL injury. The Roosters were reportedly ready to offer him a two-year deal worth $500,000 per season.

But the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Hunt met Gould and Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo this week after being convinced the club is building towards a premiership. Hunt had previously spoken about wanting to return home to Queensland but has admitted in recent days that his preference is to remain in Sydney where his wife and two children are settled. He has also spoke about wanting to win a premiership.

This has left Canterbury in a strong position to lure Hunt to the club, particularly after missing out on Papenhuyzen. It’s understood the Bulldogs are weighing up whether to extend their current halfback Toby Sexton or make a play for Hunt, who would certainly bolster their premiership credentials going forward.

Sexton enjoyed a solid season with the Bulldogs and helped the club snap their long NRL finals drought after a vastly improved season in which they finished the regular season in sixth place. Sexton is still only 23, has plenty development left in his game and could be the No.7 at the club for years to come. However, Hunt is a representative star and would undoubtedly offer a short-term upgrade to Sexton if that’s the path the Bulldogs decide to go down.