Two things i noticed on 100% Footy that gave me a gut feel that Hunt is heading our way.
- 29:25 - Chammas is talking about what Hunts motivation is (Family, winning a comp, unhappy etc) then turns to Gus and asks what he thinks Bens motivation is and if the Bulldogs are interested. Gus answered he simply doesn't know what is at the core of his motivation, then said "i haven't *pause* he hasn't told me what his motivation is at all" the pause tells me he was about to say he hasn't spoken to him which would've been a lie so he stopped himself and changed his answer, he also ignored the question re if the dogs are interested so Chammas asked him again to which Gus didn't let him finish his sentence and just started speaking over the top of him and made a super generic comment saying everyone is watching this space and that there's no point talking about it until Hunt and Dragons sort it out between themselves.
- 39:25 He made it loud and clear that the Bulldogs are WELL under the salary cap and have plenty of money and reiterated it multiple times to make it a point.
My guess based on the above, Hunt is a shoe-in pending release details with the Dragons (whether it be a straight release or player swaps etc), i also recall someone on here posting that they know it's a bigger contract offered than it should be. Could be why Gus made such a big deal about being so far under the cap.
I think we will find out post-origin, Thursday or Friday..
Yeh he has indicated we are well under the cap now and next year. With guys like Jacko, schoup released this year it’s no shock. That said I really hope we land hunt.
I don’t consider him “super elite” though he is elite and exactly what we need in that old experience head to help burton not feel he has to be everything. It allows him to grow into his position and not to mention allows Mahoney to focus on his game more and we know he’s elite too.
With hunt it would also allow critta time to grow and lock down a quality spine in my opinion.
By the time he’s done burton probably is ready to be the man. We have time/$ to plan a hunt replacement.
I also feel it leaves us able to focus on the 1 key thing left. Middles.
Kikau and Preston are edges. We have a quality backline with critta, Jac, kiraz they basis and guys like xerri and others coming. Regardless what happens with Jake and alomiti (which hopefully we keep at least 1 of).
Hunt is the exact 7 we need and just can’t afford to fail here.
I’m not sure the props though confident we can find a couple. Fotunika and paseka etc would be great without being “big names”.
Haas is obviously the dream. Guys like afb would be a dream too though I reiterate hunt is huge for us. No doubt Gus knows this. He’s been working on it since last year.
Hopefully he’s done enough to get hunt planning his move here but needs to force the release too.
