Andrew Johns has dropped a bombshell on St George Illawarra as the club licks its wounds following a dismal end to the NRL season. The Dragons lost five of their last seven games to drop outside the competition's top eight and miss finals in Shane Flanagan's first year as coach. Flanagan began his tenure in Wollongong with a win when he convinced wantaway star Ben Hunt to stick with the club. Veteran playmaker Hunt had been agitating for a release, given a desire to move back to Queensland with his family. He eventually relented and agreed to play 2024 in the Red V. It ended in the same fashion all but one of his seven seasons with the team have - without a finals appearance. The 34-year-old is contracted for 2025 but Johns very much doubts Hunt will be at the Dragons by the time next season starts. "Do you think Ben Hunt will be there next year? No," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth. And the catalyst for Hunt's departure could be a long-term injury to Roosters star Brandon Smith. But Hunt won't be heading to Bondi - according to Johns - rather to the Titans to replace hooker Sam Verrills. "I've heard Sam Verrills may be going back to the Roosters... have a look at Brandon Smith, he won't play until mid-next year," Johns said. "So that opens the way for Ben Hunt to go to the Titans. "Because Ben Hunt has been (saying) the last couple of years 'I want to go back to Queensland'. "Yeah, I do (think they will let him go)." Verrills, 25, began his NRL career with the Roosters but moved to the Gold Coast two years ago when the Sydney club recruited Smith to wear the No.9. Smith ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last week and will miss at least half of next NRL season as he recovers. As for the Dragons, Johns is confident the club is prepared to release Hunt from the final year of his deal as the Red V chases Storm utility Tyran Wishart. "They are chasing Tyran Wishart, so maybe Tyran can play five-eighth. I can see Tyran, I think his best position is at hooker," Johns said.
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