Karmichael Hunt to Queensland

[jargan83]

LOCK in Karmichael Hunt for the Reds. Best of all, he will be a worldly wise off-field mentor for the erratic James O’Connor when they team up in the backline next season.

Hunt is a big step closer to wearing the Reds fullback jersey because rugby league’s Gold Coast Titans were told last week he would not be linking with them.

Gold Coast sources say the deal is already done and that Hunt will be training at Ballymore next year after an amicable parting with the Gold Coast Suns after four AFL seasons.

Hunt’s latest code switch makes perfect sense. Jumping into rugby will extend his football life by another four years at least, two at the Reds and an adventure overseas in 2017-18.

Hunt is also a perfect fit for the Reds to fill the void at fullback. He plays with aggression, he can shoot through the defence himself and can make players around him better.

There have been a lot of distracting laments about this failed Reds season from a massive injury toll to woeful defence conceding 52 tries to botched finishing when on the tryline.

Too often overlooked is the Reds not being great passers of the football outside Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

It reached a head last weekend when Jamie-Jerry Taulagi did some good work down the touchline only to throw a no-look pass.

Why exactly he threw a no-look pass in a two-on-one situation is the great mystery because the ball sailed over the touchline when his eyes should have been glued on Lachie Turner.

Hunt is a driven footballer and something more. He would be a first season rookie at the Reds next year but a wonderful leader.

He has the stature to whack O’Connor if he hints at getting out of line off the field which is something contemporaries Cooper and Genia might find harder to enforce.

O’Connor organised a clause in his short term contract with French club Toulon to allow him to be back in Australia on January 1.

A Hunt-O’Connor-Kerevi-Tapuai-F’Sautia-Cooper-Genia backline has a look of real punch for next year.

Parting ways with Biarritz-bound Rod Davies means a real wing speedster must be a priority for the Reds along with that big, brawny backrower who is harder to find than the Yeti.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/r...-1226992792326

[shasta]

That is a huge plus for the Reds, if true. Anyone who can make good as starting 10/12 at Heineken Cup level will likely make it at Super Rugby.

Now all they need to do is appoint a competant coach.

[hertryk]

That is a huge plus for the Reds, if true. Anyone who can make good as starting 10/12 at Heineken Cup level will likely make it at Super Rugby.

Now all they need to do is appoint a competant coach.

No they don't! Keep RG there ....

[jargan83]

Why would they sack such a master tactician....

[blueandblack]

That is a huge plus for the Reds, if true. Anyone who can make good as starting 10/12 at Heineken Cup level will likely make it at Super Rugby.

Now all they need to do is appoint a competant coach.

do what we did. offload coach, get tahs coach. maybe they can do a swap!

[AndyS]

That is a huge plus for the Reds, if true...

Agree Shasta, I thought they were just flying a kite to distract their supporters. Props to them if they've actually managed it (so long as the ARU has kept their noses well and truly out of it all, otherwise...)

[GIGS20]

That is a huge plus for the Reds, if true.

It won't be enough

Now all they need to do is appoint a competant coach.

And that's why

[SNOB]

QRU must have head up their arses for the last 9 years! They obviously haven't looked at what has been going on in the West!
One or two stars don't turn a team into a winning team and nor can a cr@p coach! Dick must have some dirt on the QRU to sill have a job.

[travelling_gerry]

Just 1 goat!

[jono]

QRU must have head up their arses for the last 9 years! They obviously haven't looked at what has been going on in the West!
One or two stars don't turn a team into a winning team and nor can a cr@p coach! Dick must have some dirt on the QRU to sill have a job.

if Graham goes this year. Jim Carmichael goes as well. they cant afford to lose both.
R.G will see out his current contract.

[Ralto]

"Concusssion test - question one - who's your coach ?" ...
"Jees hard ones first....aaaah, pass"