Damien Cook's devastating reveal about Ben Hunt's exit as Roosters links firm for halfback

New Dragons recruit Damien Cook has revealed he was 'devastated' to find out his friend Ben Hunt would be immediately leaving the club having admitted one of the reasons he joined was to play with the halfback. Hunt's tumultuous time at the Dragons finally came to an end having mutually parted ways with the club and opted out out of the final year of his $900,000 contract.

Hunt has been linked with multiple clubs with talks ramping up for Maguire to chase the halfback as the Ezra Mam controversy unfolds. The Roosters are the latest club to be linked with Hunt as Trent Robinson alluded to a possible signing to fill the void in the spine.

While Hunt was clearly ready to end his relationship with the club, new recruit Cook has been left 'devastated' at his exit. Cook joined the Dragons from the Rabbitohs and the former New South Wales No.9 was looking to help improve the standards at the club.

Unfortunately, the Dragons are currently on the search for a halfback to take over the duties with a major hole left in the team. And Cook told Nine News he was surprised to see Hunt leave as soon as he had joined as he was hoping to play at least one season with his friend.

"I'm pretty devastated about Benny leaving," Cook said. "He's someone who I was looking forward to playing alongside, but you've got to move on from that.

"Being the quality player that he is, playing for Australia for a long time and I'm good mates with him, it would have been nice to play alongside him. It was part of the reason I was looking forward to going down there, but not the big reasons I wanted to be there either."

Damien Cook's Dragons move comes down to family

While Cook admitted Hunt was a bonus to join the Dragons, it wasn't the main reason. Earlier this year, reporter Phil Rothfield said the Rabbitohs great's move was mainly down to what was best for his family.

“Cooky didn’t make the decision until he had spoken to Wayne. Wayne’s obviously making recruitment decisions there next year,” Phil Rothfield said on Sky Sports radio in June. “All the Souths players are seeking advice from Wayne on different things.

"If Wayne had wanted Cooky to stay for two years instead of the one they offered him, do you think he’d be staying for two years? Of course he would. So he’s made that decision. He (Bennett) told him (Cook), ‘Do the best for your family.’ What it means by going to St George Illawarra, he gets an extra year. For a young fella with a young family, he had to take that.”

Cook will share the No.9 duties at the Dragons with Jacob Liddle in 2025 with the current Dragons No.9 one of the club's most improved players this year. Shane Flanagan will be on the lookout for a star signing after the exit of Hunt.

Trent Robinson coy on Ben Hunt links

Hunt was heavily linked with a return to Queensland after departing the Dragons having already admitted his desire to return home. However, reports have emerged Hunt doesn't want to move his family away from Sydney at this stage of their lives.

This has left the Roosters as a potential frontrunner to sign the 34-year-old halfback. And speaking on Wednesday, Roosters coach Robinson refused to rule out the signing of the versatile halfback.

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"He (Hunt) is an exceptional player and has done it for a long time," Robinson said. "People want a direct answer, but the thing is we've been clear about our squad for a while now.

"Ever since Luke (Keary) made his decision (to leave the NRL for the Super League), we were really clear and happy with where we were heading over the next couple of years. But if the opportunity arises to accommodate that No.7 and No.9 positions in different ways, then we will. But it has to be right for the next couple of years as well."