The Brisbane Broncos have fought through a tough period to remain premiership contenders this season, but the club faces a dilemma over the halfback position moving forward.
Broncos veteran Ben Hunt has declared he wants to play on in 2027 and the 36-year-old raised eyebrows this week saying he wants to play halfback next year when Adam Reynolds retires.
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“I’m definitely keen to lock in a position and I’d love to play halfback,” Hunt told Code Sports.
“We know ‘Reyno’ is retiring and they’ve got Jonah Pezet coming next year.
“But I’m going to be trying to play at halfback because that’s my preferred position and I still think I can do it.”
The Broncos face a dilemma over whether to re-sign Hunt or focus on a new halves partnership of Ezra Mam and Jonah Pezet, who joins the Broncos next year on a three-year deal.
“Hunt has come out and said he wants to play No. 7 and good on him,” Braith Anasta told news.com.au.
“He’s a champion and a competitor and I’d be saying the same thing if I was him, so he’ll be fighting for that spot.”
Anasta, who manages Pezet, believes the 23-year-old will need go up a level to after a mixed start to his one-year stint at Parramatta.
“Jonah’s got to prove himself still,” Anasta said.
“Jonah has signed a long-term deal there. Obviously I look after Jonah and I think he’s only going to get better every year. He’s only young, and the sky’s the limit for him.
“But nothing’s a given, nothing’s guaranteed, and Jonah’s still got to prove that he’s a dominant seven and he’s the right man for the job up there.
“I’m confident he will, but he’s going to have a fight on his hands, and that’s rugby league, and that’s the challenge that he needs to really answer.
“It’s going to be a pretty good shootout, and it’s probably a good position for the Broncos to be and to have so many quality players fighting for the position.”
Hunt’s former Broncos teammate Corey Parker believes Brisbane should prioritise the next generation of playmakers and signing the likes of Gehamat Shibasaki, Billy Walters, Tom Duffy and Jesse Arthars, who are out of contract at the end of this year.
“I’m a great mate of Benny Hunt’s,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast.
“But I don’t know that there’s a need to re-sign him – there’s enough people in that organisation to nurture and bring young guys through.
“I would be reluctant to sign Ben Hunt; he will be 38 years of age and would be the oldest running around in the NRL.
“He would be making $500k minimum; Walters, Pezet, Duffy and the younger brigade can have their money beefed up to hold them at the club. You don’t need a lot to say ‘we see a future with you, you can use some of Hunt’s money’.
“You have to put yourself as a business first; think if I’m paying him X, am I getting Y back?”
“It pains me because I love Benny Hunt; from a business point of view, at 38, he’s been on the sidelines now for eight weeks. I’m reluctant to throw a contact at him if there’s an option to bring through young guys.
“It’s a difficult one. I’m friends with him. I love everything he provides. It’s just a fine line. You have to make those calls sometimes.
“At some point the Broncos have to decide the angle they go with. Maybe they don’t offer a contract and put the money into the younger ones.”
Gutsy wins over the Tigers and Bulldogs have solidified Brisbane’s position in the top eight as the Broncos survived an injury crisis to bank crucial early wins in their premiership defence.
The reigning premiers welcome back Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, Jesse Arthars and Aublix Tawaha this week, but lose Brendan Piakura to a knee injury that’s expected to keep him sidelined for around a month.
Payne Haas is also out with a grade 3 MCL knee injury and will miss an extended period, but Michael Maguire’s men have show they have the depth and guts to grind out wins without some of their star players.
The Broncos take on the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night in a blockbuster clash between two top-eight teams exclusive to Kayo Sports.
“It’s a box office game,” Anasta said.
“The Roosters looked fantastic on ANZAC Day and we’ll get a good read this week when they do take on the Broncos.
“The Broncos, after a slow start, the second half against Melbourne really turned their season around and they’ve been great ever since.
“Their defence has improved out of sight. They’ve got Reece Walsh and Carrigan coming back, Payne Haas is still out, but that doesn’t seem to worry them at the moment. Actually, it doesn’t worry them whoever’s out and now they’ve got key players coming back.
“The Broncos are cruising, they’re going really good.
“I look at the game, and the Roosters are favourites, and I do believe they can win it, but if I’m looking at form lines and the big games over the past couple of years and consistency wise, I would lean towards the Broncos.”
“To get this severity of injuries that they’ve had and then perform the way that they have with those key players in has been enormous and they’ll get heaps of confidence out of that.
“They’re front and centre, they’re going to be hard to beat this year. The last couple of weeks has proven where they’re at, not only in terms of their footy but of in terms of their mindset and confidence and belief levels.”
Watch the Brisbane Broncos vs Sydney Roosters on Saturday at 7.35pm exclusively on Kayo Sports.
