'Hasn't helped them': Phil Gould reveals brutal 'facts' as Ben Hunt and Dragons set for another collision course

Ben Hunt is once again facing an uncertain future at St George Illawarra and according to Phil Gould, there are some brutal "facts" that need to be addressed.

The veteran halfback had a mixed season as the Dragons narrowly missed the finals, with Hunt's form at the business-end of the year coming under scrutiny.

The 34-year-old was below his best against the Eels and Raiders - two games his side were expected to win and lock down a top-eight spot - leading to an honest review from Shane Flanagan after the final round.

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According to reports, Hunt has been told a previous offer to extend his contract until the end of 2026 is no longer on the table, with the skipper now off-contract at the end of next season and available to rival clubs from November 1.

It has led to suggestions Hunt could push for an early release, which would leave the Saints without their marquee man and a genuine halfback.

"Ben Hunt is one of the elite players in the game," he said on Wide World Of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus.

"He's played with the Dragons and they've had an on-off relationship for a number of years. As it would appear, there's been an assessment of this year's season and he's got a year to go on his contract and they aren't gonna offer him an extension into 2026.

"I don't know what the future is for Ben Hunt and the Dragons, that's for them to work out. If they were to lose him … what's the price of not having him? In the halfback market at the moment, there aren't a lot of alternatives.

"In Ben Hunt's time at the Dragons, how many times have they made the top-eight? Look at the world the way you like it and look at the world the way it is, they are facts and you can't get away from those.

"Ben Hunt is a great footballer and a terrific competitor … he's created more tries than any halfback in the game this year, but it hasn't helped them get to the top-eight.

"Going forward, what are their options? Ben's not getting younger."

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Gould's comments come after Hunt dominated the try assist statistic across the competition in 2024, but it again failed to lift his side into the post-season.

In fact, the only time Hunt's individual form has coincided with consistent team results was in 2018, which was largely thanks to Gareth Widdop and an elite forward pack.

But the other side of the issue is at that there isn't a whole lot of depth in the playmaking ranks in Wollongong aside from Hunt.

Kyle Flanagan - the coach's son - played in the No.6 jumper for a large portion of the season, but is certainly not a long-term option for the Dragons in the halves.

Lykhan King-Togia is a player on the rise and was given a first grade opportunity late in the season, but throwing a teenager into a chief playmaking role is a recipe for disaster and the young gun would need an experienced No.7 alongside him.

The likelihood is that coach Flanagan will need to enter the player market in November to lure someone for 2026 and while Gould doesn't believe the talent is there, Flanagan is a savvy operator and has already landed some major signings at the club.

Braydon Trindall and Jackson Hastings are steady game managers who could become targets for the Red V, while the likes of Jonah Pezet and Lachlan Ilias could be looking for an opportunity given the halves situation at their current clubs.

Raiders star Jamal Fogarty is another potential target, but the halfback does have an option in the club's favour for 2026 that hasn't been triggered yet.

Flanagan has never been shy to go after players with less football in front of them than behind them, evidenced recently by the signings of Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes.

Canterbury's own Toby Sexton also faces an uncertain future, with teenage prodigy Mitchell Woods a favourite of Gould's and expected to partner Matt Burton long-term.

While there's a long way to go before Hunt's future is decided, it's probably time the Dragons start looking towards the future and prepare to cut ties with the Queenslander.

Whether it comes before next season or at the end of it, Hunt's exit appears inevitable.