NRL: Roosters interested in Ben Hunt to cover injury gaps

The Sydney Roosters have declared their interest in Ben Hunt, with the NRL club looking at the seasoned halfback as an option to cover some of their injury gaps in 2025.

Hunt is an in-demand free agent after he was released from the St George Illawarra Dragons ahead of November 1.

Several clubs have expressed interest in signing the 34-year-old playmaker for 2025, with the Roosters joining the Canterbury Bulldogs, Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans as teams in the fray for his signature.

“Hunt is an exceptional player and has done it for a long time,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said on Tuesday.

“People want a direct answer, but the thing is we’ve been clear about our squad for a while now.

“We were really clear with where we were heading over the next couple of years, and we were happy about that.

“But if the opportunity arises to accommodate that seven and nine position in different ways then we will, but it has to be right for the next couple of years as well.

“There are a couple of players that we’re looking at because of the injuries with a nine and a seven going down.”

The penultimate round of the 2024 NRL regular season delivered a harsh blow to the Roosters, with both Brandon Smith and Sam Walker on the receiving end of ACL injuries.

Although Sydney have plenty of emerging talent to call upon, Hunt’s ability to play both halfback and hooker at the highest level makes him an attractive option.

“It didn’t only affect the back end of this year, but it also affects the start of next year as well,” Robinson said of the injuries to Smith and Walker.

“We’re really comfortable with some of the young guys coming through, but we are also looking at covering those positions if it’s right.

“We don’t feel like we’re in a rush, but if it’s right then we’ll look at options.”

NRL betting sites have the Roosters on the eighth line of outright betting heading into the 2025 season, with Bet365 paying $17 for the club to win the title.

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