After seven seasons and 147 matches for the St George Illawarra Dragons, Ben Hunt's time at the club has come to an end after he was released from the final season of the contract.
His departure means that the Dragons will need to prepare for life without him and will produce a new halves combination next season and beyond as they aim to reach the NRL Finals series once again.
Zero Tacklesย takes a look at ten realistic options that Shane Flanagan and the Dragons could choose to replace the Australian Kangaroos and QLD Maroons representative.
All the players on the list are either without a contract for next season, have been linked with the club or rival teams, have an 'NRL clause' in their contract, or are currently playing at the Dragons.
The options include seven rival NRL players, two Super League playmakers and one player who is currently involved with the St George Illawarra Dragons.
6Adam Doueihi
Having already shown an interest in Adam Doueihi, the St George Illawarra Dragons may decide to go all-in on the Lebanon international and try to sign him for the 2025 NRL season and lure the Wests Tigers into letting him go before the expiration of his contract.
Recently agreeing to a one-year contract extension with the Tigers, he took a significant pay cut of $350,000 a season to remain at the club but has been relegated to the centres with the arrival of Jahream Bulaย andย Lachlan Galvin in the fullback and five-eighth positions.
Plagued by injuries,ย The Sydney Morning Heraldย previously reported that the Dragons have already held internal discussions about recruiting his services. He has also shown in the past that he could easily be one of the competition's best five-eighths when fully fit.
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Joining the Tigers at the start of the 2020 season after two years with theย South Sydney Rabbitohs, Doueihi has been continually plagued by injuries while at the club, playing only 64 matches in five seasons.
At this moment, theย Wests Tigers have no spots left on their Top 30 roster for next season, and Doueihi's departure would free up a spot to recruit another player on the open market as they continue their own rebuild or re-sign Sione Fainu to keep him with his younger brothers Latu and Samuela.
Pezet on loan for 12 months looks sensible, as does developing their home grown guy, King Togia. Developing your own (cheap) talent is the Penrith and Cronulla strategy, and that alone is a recommendation for the strategy.