NRL star Ben Hunt signs with new club to create 68-year-old half-back pairing

NRL superstar Ben Hunt has finally found a new club, and this will set up a unique phenomenon in the halves next year.

Hunt is one of the biggest stars in the competition, having been a Queensland regular in State of Origin for a number of years.

He also played in the 2022 World Cup final victory for Australia and has 15 caps for his country.

With Brisbane Broncos and St. George Illawarra Dragons, he has over 300 NRL Premiership appearances and has come close on a number of occasions to win a Premiership.

One such occasion came in the 2015 Grand Final which saw Kyle Feldt (who has signed for St Helens for 2025) strip the ball from him in the final moments of the game, which allowed North Queensland Cowboys to equalise the game with a try before Johnathan Thurston kicked their winning drop goal.

After his release from the Dragons, he was a free agent and despite being one of the big names Down Under, didn’t find a new club – until now.

NRL star Ben Hunt signs with new club to create 68-year-old half-back pairing

Now, Hunt has returned to Brisbane Broncos, with whom he played 187 NRL games in his first spell, from 2009 to 2017 – as well as playing for their under-20s side in 2008, winning the Toyota Cup Player of the Year.

He has signed a two-year deal with the club, seeing him with them through 2026.

Speaking in a club statement, Hunt said: “To be able to finish my career at the Broncos is something that I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do and I’ll cherish it.

“It’s definitely a club that has meant a lot to me, I’ve been involved with the Broncos since I was 13.

“I’ve been away for 7 years but I’ve watched every single Broncos game since I’ve been away – I never thought this would happen, so I’m pretty excited.“The chance now to head back and chase that Premiership together, is a dream come true.”

It’s likely that he’ll lineup with fellow veteran half Adam Reynolds, who, like Hunt, is 34 years-old. Therefore, the Broncos could have a half-back pairing with a combined age of 68, with that moving to 70 mid-way through the 2025 season.

The duo were the fifth and sixth oldest players in the NRL during the 2024 campaign, highlighting just how bizarre Wests half-back dynamic is in 2025.