NRL great Wendell Sailor has called on St George Illawarra to switch Ben Hunt to hooker as the club ponders how to secure their captain's future while also providing their young talent with opportunities.
In career-best form and off-contract at the end of next year, Hunt is negotiating a new deal at the Dragons but will be free to talk to rival clubs from November 1.
Realistically, Hunt will need to take a pay cut from his current $1.1 million salary but the Dragons are adamant they have not low-balled the playmaker despite speculation this week.
"Hunt is a necessity at the Dragons," Sailor, an ex-Dragon, told AAP.
"If he makes the right decisions around his career now, I've got no doubt he can take them to the finals in the next couple of years."
Given Hunt turns 33 in the opening month of the 2023 season, the Dragons are also having to consider their long-term future, with Jayden Sullivan looming as the club's long-term halfback.
Coach Anthony Griffin gave Sullivan and young fullback Tyrell Sloan limited opportunities in 2022, with the two local products playing only 13 games between them despite being touted as the future of the Dragons' spine.
Griffin has been willing to revamp his coaching staff for 2023, moving assistants Peter Gentle and Mathew Head on, but time will tell whether the makeovers extend onto the field.
"I just don't know if (Griffin) gets the culture of the Dragons and the DNA of the Dragons," Sailor said.
"He's moved his assistants along, so it's their fault and not his, apparently.
"The best thing about the Dragons when I was there was that they backed their juniors.
"I just don't think at the moment that they're doing that."
Hunt was one of Queensland's best when playing hooker in the 2022 State of Origin series and Sailor suggested switching him out of halfback could be a way to give the Dragons' young guns chances at NRL level.
"I'd like to see them move Ben Hunt to hooker, because anywhere he plays, he's a winner. He's your X Factor," he said.
"Sullivan deserves a really good crack. He had a good pre-season, he's ready to go.
"Sloan is a good player too.
"These players, they're hungry, they're ready to play. They're young lions, you've got to feed them. You've got to let them play first grade."
Switching Hunt to No. 9 could also be a way to justify a pay cut, with halfbacks usually commanding higher salaries than hookers.
"You've got to try and keep them all for another year at least and then work around it," Sailor said.
"As a fan of that club, I just want to see them do well.
"I want the Dragons to get that Red V passion back."
