The Brisbane Broncos have not yet decided on the future of veteran Ben Hunt, specifically regarding a potential new contract after 2026.
Hunt joined the Broncos before the 2025 NRL season on a two-year agreement following his release from the St George Illawarra Dragons. He has fluctuated in his thoughts about extending his career beyond 2026.
Initially, he considered the option for an additional year. However, by January, he expressed that a challenging pre-season led him to rethink this idea. He suggested that his final decision would not be made quickly, indicating that if he feels physically capable later in the year, he may choose to continue playing past 2026.
Nevertheless, his fate might be influenced by the Broncos' internal decisions, as they are still evaluating whether to extend his contract, according to a report by Wide World of Sports.
Brisbane is currently well-stocked with players in both of Hunt's positions: halves and hooker.
With Jonah Pezet arriving in 2027, the team will manage the upcoming retirement of Adam Reynolds, while Ezra Mam will maintain his role at five-eighth. They also have Tom Duffy and Josh Rogers available.
In the hooker position, Billy Walters and Cory Paix are part of the roster, and the club must ensure Blake Mozer receives sufficient game time both this year and next to retain a talent deemed as the top junior dummy half since Cameron Smith.
This situation may put Hunt in a tough position regarding both his role and potential salary cap issues.
A source has indicated that Hunt's fitness and performance will likely influence any contract offer. However, it's apparent that additional factors, including salary cap constraints, are also significant considerations for Brisbane.