EXCLUSIVE: Bulldogs Chief Phil Gould Clarifies Reasoning Behind Ignoring Bid for Ben Hunt

Phil Gould has clarified the reasoning behind the Canterbury officials’ choice not to chase Ben Hunt, despite the club having met with the seasoned playmaker last year.

Hunt departed the Dragons under tumultuous circumstances at the conclusion of the 2024 season, swiftly linking himself to several NRL rivals including the Bulldogs, Dolphins, and Roosters.

Ultimately, the 34-year-old decided to return to Queensland, signing a two-year deal with the Broncos, which will mark the conclusion of his career at Red Hill.

While there were indeed whispers regarding a potential move to Belmore for Hunt, the club’s general manager of football clarified that those discussions did not originate from the Bulldogs.

“Those inquiries were largely prompted by Ben’s management,” Gould noted on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus earlier this week.

“They were exploring options for him since he was residing in Sydney, and with young children starting school, it was probably more convenient for him to remain closer to them.

“He was clearly keen to depart from the Dragons, and I believe he had discussions with the Roosters and several other clubs.”

“However, with Ben’s career stage and our position, we simply chose to rely on what we currently have. Ben is an excellent player, and we genuinely appreciated him as a person.”

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Hunt is set to play five-eighth for the Broncos at the start of the season before likely transitioning to the No.9 jersey when Ezra Mam returns from his suspension.

On the Bulldogs’ front, they continue to invest in their future, and Gould believes the club is well-positioned regarding their halfback prospects.

“Toby Sexton is currently our main halfback, and we have faith in his development—he’s only 24 and performed admirably for us last season,” Gould stated.

“We also have promising halves such as Cassius Tia, Mitch Woods, and Joey O’Neill. We’re hopeful they will step up in the next two to three years, but we’re not intending to rush their growth.” 

The Bulldogs will begin their 2025 season against St George Illawarra on March 8.