Ben Hunt Brisbane Broncos salary, Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Billy Walters money, salary cap squeeze, Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo

Ben Hunt has been stuck in the backbone of the Broncos on a reduced salary, with Adam Reynolds’ price having dropped and Reece Walsh’s million-dollar-per-season contract yet to take effect.

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While Hunt’s contract is yet to be officially signed by the NRL, having dropped significantly from his million-dollar salary at the Dragons, CODE Sports has revealed how his deal fits in with his colleagues Brisbane playmakers.

In an article detailing the estimated salaries of each Broncos player, CODE’s Peter Badel wrote that Hunt would only hit $550,000 in salary cap space in Brisbane, with third-party deals to boost his earnings. Reynolds will earn the same salary as Hunt for 2025, while marginalized star Ezra Mam will earn $750,000, current first-choice hooker Billy Walters $300,000 and Walsh $650,000 ahead of a four-year contract of 1. $1 million per season takes effect from 2026.

Test prop Payne Haas already earns more than $1 million per season and even at a lower rate, the signing of Hunt has stretched Brisbane’s cap. The club must determine whether it can keep its two most lucrative centers, Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo, or whether losing one is inevitable beyond next season.

One of the obvious casualties on the list is Queensland Cup hooker Cory Paix, who is occupying $300,000 of cap space despite falling well below the pecking order. Hunt will likely be the Broncos’ No. 1 hooker if Mam is allowed back in the halves after a drugged-driving charge is dealt with in court.

Fringe forward Kobe Hetherington, at around $400,000 per season, is another player at risk.

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The Broncos have until Tuesday to submit Hunt’s official contract before he can be registered with the club by the NRL.

The NRL salary cap auditor will compare Ben Hunt’s contract to other offers and take into account key parameters including his age before recording the contract.

Clubs have seven days from the announcement of a new signing to submit the contract to the NRL for registration.

As of midday on Friday, the NRL was still awaiting submission of Hunt’s contract, after it was announced last Tuesday that he would return to Red Hill.

Several NRL coaches and CEOs are wondering how the Broncos can fit Hunt into their salary cap without getting rid of any players.

Hunt was in the sights of the Roosters, Bulldogs and Dolphins before signing with Brisbane. The Dolphins were the club best placed to offer him a salary comparable to that of St George Illawarra.

Now 34 and turning 35 at the start of next season, Hunt said returning to his original club and trying to win a premiership outweighed all other concerns. He infamously lost a golden point on the extra-time kick-off in the 2015 grand final against North Queensland, condemning the Broncos to a historic defeat.

“In my heart it always brought me back to Brisbane and the possibility of finishing my career where it all began,” he told 4BC.

“Going back to my beginnings is what really got us across the finish line. The love of the place and what the club gave me at the start of my career.

“Wouldn’t it be great to come back 10 years later and win a competition for this great club?

“That’s obviously every NRL player’s goal and I think they’ve got the troops to do it and ‘Madge’ (Maguire) is going to be really good for the club.

“I hope I can come and contribute and win a competition.”