Dragons skipper Ben Hunt expects to meet with club officials early next week to sort out his future after a horror night at WIN Stadium brought him crashing back to earth from high of Queensland's Origin success two days earlier.
Hunt backed up for his club just 48 hours after helping Queensland wrap up a 2-0 series win at Suncorp Stadium but was unable to inspire his side as the Dragons slumped to a 48-18 loss to the Warriors.
The 33-year-old has requested a release from the Dragons and expressed a desire to return home to Queensland but the club has so far denied his request.
"I'm keen to get it sorted out and I'll meet with the club this week some time and we'll get to the end of it," Hunt told media at the post-match press conference.
"I had no communication with the club this week, we decided to put it on the backburner until after this game.
Dragons: Round 17
"There were a couple of tough days this week and a couple of really good days - it's the rollercoaster of rugby league and tonight can bring you back down pretty quick.
"I was feeling alright coming into the game and I had done a fair bit of recovery stuff and mentally I was excited to get back to the group.
"The coach said they had trained well during the week and it was Jack de Belin's 200th game and I was excited to get out for that but we tossed up a pretty embarrassing game."
Hunt, who has played 117 games for the Dragons since joining the club from Brisbane in 2018, said he "totally understands" that the Red V's supporters will be disappointed with the drama surrounding his request for a release despite being contracted until the end of 2025.
Dragons v Warriors - Round 17, 2023
"We've got very passionate fans and they love this club and I'll keep turning up," he said.
"I'm still the captain of the team and I'll always show up for my role until that's changed."
If Hunt has played his last game for the Red V he said he has confidence in the Dragons' young playmakers to step up and take the club forward.
"I'm really confident in those kids [Amone and Sullivan], we've seen glimpses of their talent, the things they can do," said Hunt.
"It's going to take a bit of maturity and growing up and learning a bit more about the game and they've definitely got it."