Twist in Dragons tail as Hunt saga hits new low, Yeo tips Kiwis to bounce back, Johnson updates comeback call

St George Illawarra’s contract stand-off with Ben Hunt has hit a new low with the skipper reportedly saying he has no need to return to the membership or be coached by Shane Flanagan once more.

The veteran half is in Kangaroos camp in the intervening time for the Pacific Championships however even after the crew takes a break for the following week, he’ll keep in the South Island of New Zealand for a household vacation fairly than returning to the Dragons to kind out his contract dramas.

Flanagan performed media interviews final week in which he implied Hunt or his administration had leaked details about his end-of-season participant evaluate.

In accordance to a Sydney Morning Herald report on the weekend, Hunt is fuming over the insinuations and his fractured relationship with the coach has now turn into irreparable.

“There were three people in the review: Me, Dean Young and Ben. I can guarantee you, Dean Young didn’t speak to any media and I haven’t spoken to any media about the review,” Flanagan mentioned. “And what’s being said is incorrect. There was no discussion about Ben’s salary and all that sort of stuff. That’s just absolutely rubbish.”

Though his desire is to return to Queensland, the 34-year-old is seemingly now open to all affords for 2025 though he’s contracted to the Dragons for subsequent season.

The Dolphins are the favourites to land Hunt if he can get an early launch with new coach Kristian Woolf expressing his curiosity in the veteran playmaker.

Dragons officers have granted Hunt permission to area affords for 2026 earlier than free company formally begins on November 1 however haven’t allowed him to be launched for subsequent season.

He has lengthy been considering a transfer again to Queensland to end his profession, with the Dragons blocking earlier requests for a launch in 2023.

Gold Coast is not going to pursue Hunt amid a wealth of their very own playmaking choices, whereas Brisbane have been linked with a play for Roosters half Sam Walker – additionally ready to area affords from November 1 – however he’s possible to keep in Sydney.

“I read the media reports and I can sit here with my hand on my heart and say we’ve had no contact at all,” Woolf mentioned on Thursday. “At the moment it’s not something I’m interested in talking about.”

However forward of the Dolphins’ third season in the premiership, Woolf mentioned his aspect would all the time be eager on gamers of Hunt’s ilk.

Hunt recorded extra strive assists (34) than another participant in 2024 and Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima are the Dolphins’ solely halves choices contracted past subsequent season.

“We’re always interested in talented players and Ben Hunt is a talented player, he’s playing for Australia at the moment,” Woolf mentioned.

“We’re always interested in having those conversations but as I said, that conversation hasn’t happened at the moment.”

Yeo warns Kiwis will bounce again

Australia captain Isaah Yeo has warned New Zealand can be “a hundred times better” than throughout their first Pacific Championships conflict if the standard rivals meet once more in the Pacific Cup last.

The Kiwis will begin sizzling favourites to beat Tonga in Auckland on Saturday and e book a rematch with the Kangaroos, who punched their ticket to the decider by profitable 22-10 in Christchurch on Sunday.

New Zealand confirmed optimistic indicators in Stacey Jones’ first sport on the helm, controlling the territory battle for lengthy stretches and guarding possession higher than Australia.

However they have been outperformed defensively and an extended listing of absentees meant halfback Shaun Johnson had little help in orchestrating the Kiwis’ set performs on return from retirement.

Whereas the Kangaroos got here into the conflict on the again of a win over Tonga earlier this month, the vast majority of New Zealand gamers have been lining up for his or her first aggressive sport in virtually two months.

In whole, 10 members of the Kiwis’ 17 performed in NRL groups that missed finals this season, so final performed a aggressive sport in the week starting September 2.

Dylan Edwards. (Photograph by Joe Allison/Getty Photos)

Australia had themselves appeared off form in their first match of the Pacific Championships, as they made a staggering 19 errors in the win over Tonga at Suncorp Stadium.

Enhancements proven in the defeat of New Zealand led Yeo to imagine the Kiwis have been able to comparable progress ought to the edges meet once more to resolve the Pacific Cup on November 10.

“I felt like we were a better side this week than last week and I think just the extra weeks’ prep, you have the game under your belt,” he mentioned.

“I certainly think New Zealand will be a hundred times better.

“There are blokes in there who wouldn’t have played for four or five weeks. So automatically, you get 80 minutes under your belt and another week’s training, you’ll be a better side for it.

“Off the back of that, whoever wins next week will be a better side again because they’ve got another game under their belt.”

However the captain felt his aspect was able to making extra strides of their very own, after a bombed strive from Angus Crichton headlined a listing of preventable errors.

“I feel like our best football is still in front of us, which is exciting but I think that’ll be the case for both teams,” he mentioned.

Yeo spoke candidly in regards to the ache of Australia’s loss to the Kiwis in final yr’s Pacific Cup last – a 30-0 drubbing that counts as the nation’s greatest defeat.

The lock was happy for the Kangaroos to have recorded their first defeat of the Kiwis in New Zealand since 2012 however nonetheless felt Australia had unfinished enterprise in the match.

“It was certainly nice to get one back on them for sure but I guess the ultimate goal and all that matters is that championship in two weeks’ time,” he mentioned.

Johnson joyful to keep retired

Shaun Johnson is assured he has made the suitable call retiring from the NRL regardless of a skilful and emotional comeback for New Zealand in Christchurch.

Johnson answered a misery call from the injury-hit Kiwis to lace up the boots for the Pacific Championships after calling time on a storied NRL profession on the finish of the 2024 season.

The 34-year-old couldn’t stop an improved Australia from lodging a 22-10 win on Sunday however had an excellent particular person efficiency with out one other recognised playmaker by his aspect.

He triggered the play that netted the Kiwis’ first strive by Jamayne Isaako and kicked fantastically all afternoon, placing up the cross-field bomb that helped Will Warbrick maintain their aspect in the sport late.

“I felt probably as I expected, probably a little bit underdone,” mentioned Johnson, one among 10 Kiwis taking part in their first sport in seven weeks.

“The weeks (off) haven’t helped me at all. I’ve battled niggles all year like a lot of us do and that’s been well-documented with my Achilles and obviously falling off that load.

“You can’t just go from nothing to get there. You’ve got to build gradual and I haven’t had that luxury with the late call-up. 

“(But) I’m pretty stoked with how I went tonight. I enjoyed it, I stayed in the moment and I played some good footy at times. Is there things I can work on? 100 per cent, and I will, but for a first hit-out in a while with a lack of reps, I’ll take a lot out of it personally.”

Johnson took a second to survey the group on return to the sphere, selecting out his household in the stands at Apollo Tasks Stadium and having an emotional second to himself.

As he ready to take the sphere for the primary of at the very least two Assessments, the Warriors legend knew his profession was supposed to be consigned to the historical past books.

“This whole week has been crazy,” Johnson mentioned.

“Running out tonight, I never thought I was going to feel that again, and I was at peace with that. So why not smile and soak it all up?

“I wish everyone got to experience what I got to experience tonight. It’s a pretty cool feeling.”

Johnson spent the seven weeks since taking part in his final NRL sport juggling media work with parenting duties.

The prospect to cook dinner breakfast for his daughters and take them to college has been all too uncommon a luxurious for Johnson throughout his taking part in profession.

“I got to be hands-on, I got to be present and footy was at the furthest point from my mind through that stretch,” he mentioned.

“I didn’t do too much footy stuff but I did a whole heap of life stuff.”

Household man Johnson remained content material together with his determination to grasp up the boots, bullish on what he would say if Warriors coach Andrew Webster known as to float an NRL comeback for 2025.

“I’d say ‘No, mate’,” Johnson mentioned with a smile.

“Or I’d say, ‘All the best, I’ll be there with you but alongside you, not out on the field’.”

Johnson, often ranked the best Kiwi playmaker of his technology, was assured in Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown as the Kiwis’ halfback choices for the long run.

“I’m the third-string halfback here. Like, think about that. We’re in great hands,” he mentioned.