midfielder
Well-Known Member
HUGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEE News from the NRL / AFL
Massive story in terms of AFL & NRL war
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/articles/2009/07/29/1248546753089.html
Karmichael Hunt to join AFL
July 29, 2009 - 8:33AM
Brisbane Broncos rugby league star Karmichael Hunt is switching codes to play Australian football in a move that will rock the NRL to its foundations.
In an unprecedented cross-code switch, Hunt, 22, is to announce today that he is signing with the new Gold Coast franchise, which joins the AFL competition in 2011.
He will begin his new career with the Gold Coast franchise next year. The club is yet to commit to which competition it will play in next year before joining the AFL, but it is most likely to be the VFL competition.
It is the first time a rugby league international has switched codes to play Australian football.
The move will intensify the fierce turf war between the strongest football codes in Australia, with rugby league in danger of suffering further raids on its most talented players, especially if Hunt makes a successful transition.
Hunt is regarded as one of the brightest talents in the NRL. Fellow Test players Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and Israel Folau are other obvious targets for AFL clubs.
Hunt knocked back a $1.2-million three-year deal with the Broncos earlier this year and his manager David Riolo has been overseas looking at his options.
The news is a setback for South Sydney, which last week targeted Hunt as a possible replacement for Craig Wing whom they released so he could take up a lucrative offer with Japanese second-division rugby union franchise NTT Communications.
Hunt, who returns from injury for the Broncos in Saturday nights match against Canberra, said he would announce his future after Origin III but had always indicated he was heading overseas to play rugby union.
Irish club Munster had recently been linked with him through his connections with their coach Tony McGahan, Hunts former high school coach.
French club Bayonne and Suntory in Japan were also believed to have expressed an interest in signing him, although former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said last week that Hunt had priced himself out of Suntorys reach.
A number of English Super League clubs are believed to have also made approaches.
Hunt played some Australian football as a schoolboy in Brisbane, attracting the attention of Queensland AFL scouts, before joining the Broncos as a 17-year-old in 2004.
The Auckland-born fullback has since played 10 State of Origin matches for Queensland and 11 Tests for Australia.
With Hunts Broncos contract up at the end of the 2009 NRL season, his future has been a hot topic in recent months.
Hunt will make his shock code-switch announcement at a press conference on the Gold Coast this morning.
Massive story in terms of AFL & NRL war
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/articles/2009/07/29/1248546753089.html
Karmichael Hunt to join AFL
July 29, 2009 - 8:33AM
Brisbane Broncos rugby league star Karmichael Hunt is switching codes to play Australian football in a move that will rock the NRL to its foundations.
In an unprecedented cross-code switch, Hunt, 22, is to announce today that he is signing with the new Gold Coast franchise, which joins the AFL competition in 2011.
He will begin his new career with the Gold Coast franchise next year. The club is yet to commit to which competition it will play in next year before joining the AFL, but it is most likely to be the VFL competition.
It is the first time a rugby league international has switched codes to play Australian football.
The move will intensify the fierce turf war between the strongest football codes in Australia, with rugby league in danger of suffering further raids on its most talented players, especially if Hunt makes a successful transition.
Hunt is regarded as one of the brightest talents in the NRL. Fellow Test players Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and Israel Folau are other obvious targets for AFL clubs.
Hunt knocked back a $1.2-million three-year deal with the Broncos earlier this year and his manager David Riolo has been overseas looking at his options.
The news is a setback for South Sydney, which last week targeted Hunt as a possible replacement for Craig Wing whom they released so he could take up a lucrative offer with Japanese second-division rugby union franchise NTT Communications.
Hunt, who returns from injury for the Broncos in Saturday nights match against Canberra, said he would announce his future after Origin III but had always indicated he was heading overseas to play rugby union.
Irish club Munster had recently been linked with him through his connections with their coach Tony McGahan, Hunts former high school coach.
French club Bayonne and Suntory in Japan were also believed to have expressed an interest in signing him, although former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said last week that Hunt had priced himself out of Suntorys reach.
A number of English Super League clubs are believed to have also made approaches.
Hunt played some Australian football as a schoolboy in Brisbane, attracting the attention of Queensland AFL scouts, before joining the Broncos as a 17-year-old in 2004.
The Auckland-born fullback has since played 10 State of Origin matches for Queensland and 11 Tests for Australia.
With Hunts Broncos contract up at the end of the 2009 NRL season, his future has been a hot topic in recent months.
Hunt will make his shock code-switch announcement at a press conference on the Gold Coast this morning.
