Canterbury could be set to make a major move in the player market with Ben Hunt linked to a shock switch from St George Illawarra.
The veteran endured a dire end to the campaign at the Dragons with a subsequent internal review from Shane Flanagan reportedly seeing tensions rise between the playmaker and club.
The Red V had their finals hopes in their own hands heading into the last few weeks of the regular season but crashed and burned in the business end of the campaign to miss out on the top eight.
Hunt failed to impress during the key matches and after allegedly being on the verge of re-signing with the club he has been at since 2018, an exit may now be on the cards.
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Hunt has repeatedly spoken about his desire to win an elusive premiership before he hangs up the boots.
But the prospect of doing so in the next few years at the Dragons appears unlikely despite Flanagan’s overall positive impact on the club.
"I’m hearing he’s unlikely to be there next year," journalist Adrian Proszenko revealed on SEN’s Crunch Time.
"I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Dogs have a look at him."
Hunt has been linked to a return home to Queensland recently as a potential premature departure from St George Illawarra hit fever pitch last year when the No.7 requested a release.
"The club met with Ben and his management, where he shared the concerns and frustrations that led to his recent request for a release from his contract," the Dragons noted last June.
Flanagan’s intervention resulted in Hunt walking back on his request as he agreed to play under the premiership-winning coach.
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Yet after constantly being linked with the Gold Coast Titans since, the Bulldogs have now emerged as another potential landing spot should the Dragons release the halfback from the last year of his deal.
Any move is only likely to be a short-term one though with Hunt admitting last month that he was nearing the end of his career.
"To be honest, I’m still on the fence about it (new Dragons deal) and not on the fence with the club and whether I want to leave or not," Hunt told Fox League.
"It’s more about my future and how much longer I’ve got left in this game. I’m 34 now and have played a hell of a lot of footy.
"I definitely don’t think (I’ll make my decision) next year, it will be before that."
