NRL's Hunt to join Gold Coast AFL team

[normie]

Has that Canadian bloke, Mike Pyke, played an AFL match for the Sydney Swans yet?

DOH!!!! He has...


Rugby convert Pyke impresses for Swans

Canadian rugby convert Mike Pyke answered the critics and showed some promising signs in his AFL debut for Sydney against Richmond at the SCG.


http://www.theroar.com.au/.../rugby-...ses-for-swans/

[robyn <3]

That's so embarassing, Karmicheal. Why would you do that to yourself! AFL must be pretty desperate

Why doesn't he come and play with his little rookie-cousin over here?

[travelling_gerry]

By Matt Marshall
From: The Daily Telegraph July 30, 2009 12:00AM

KARMICHAEL Hunt knocked back rugby union offers from the All Blacks and Wallabies before choosing his more brazen code switch.

In Australian sport's best-kept secret, Hunt was yesterday unveiled as a jaw-dropping pioneer for the AFL.

Turning his back on lures to become a dual international, he has pinned his future to the Gold Coast Football Club set to enter the AFL in 2011.

Hunt's three-year deal from 2010, believed to be worth close to $3million, kicks in this November. The lucrative contract will begin despite the fact the code-hopping Bronco has been granted leave to play union abroad until next May.

He is free to roam abroad following the completion of this year's NRL season with Brisbane. "It was enough money to make him stay in Australia,'' his manager David Riolo said. "The union offers were massive. It's a pioneering role K has chosen to take.''


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The AFL's coup follows formal offers from the New Zealand Rugby Union and talks with the Australian Rugby Union.

The Bronco also received six concrete club rugby offers from Japan, Europe and England. Japanese clubs Suntory and Sanyo had offered him up to $800,000 a year.

[travelling_gerry]

Someone from ARU care to explain?

[zimeric]

I think the guy just wants a new challenge... probably not interested in Union based on the reputation of Mungo's hopping back to NRL because they cant hack it. I say good on him, hate to have lost such an awesome talent to a rival code but Im actually looking forward to him breaking someone like Ben Cousins in half...

[jargan83]

Someone from ARU care to explain?

How so? As to why they offered him a big money contract or why they were unable to sign him?

Im actually looking forward to him breaking someone like Ben Cousins in half...

Ben Counsins may not be playing by 2011 when the Gold Coast enter the AFL, he is only a 1 year deal with Richmond this year I think

[KenyaQuin]

I would not be surprised for the contract to contain get-out clauses for both Huntmichael and the Gold Coast just incase this idea flops somewhere along the line (ie, he's a failure).

Thinking about it, at his age (23 later this year) he's probably in the perfect spot to flirt with the strange game for a year or two (2010/2011) and if it comes to nought, still have his best years ahead of him to return to league or come over home to Union.

Cheeky bugger.

[brokendown gunfighter]

he is going to get a lot of moolah & probably wont play a game at AFL level

[normie]

Or he if all else fails, he could go to the States and try his luck in the NFL...

[shasta]

hate to have lost such an awesome talent to a rival code but

Similar to the question Jargs posed, are you saying "lost to a rival code" from a RL supporter's perspective, or wondering why the ARU didn't spend massive amounts to sign yet another Mungo?

I'll be interested to see how he goes just like I'm always interested to see how players trying to "cross codes" get on. The ball skills will not be a problem. Where to play him might. Will he be able to build the aerobic endurance necessary at the elite level?

Some are seeing this experiment as a potential threat to the two Rugby codes. I doubt it. The real battleground, as ever, is for the 13-18 year olds.

[laura]

Was listening to 92.9 this morning & they were talking to Daniel Kerr about Karmichael's move...he reckons Hunt will take on some kind of role where he can see the play unfolding & recommended he work on skills like kicking and catching "because they don't do that in rugby" Then he went on to say Hunt is a big boy and having him tackle you would be like being hit by a steam train and he might need to lose a bit of weight "because rugby players are quite heavy".

[force addict]

daniel kerr has taken too many drugs

[jono]

Or he if all else fails, he could go to the States and try his luck in the NFL...

nah. they wont look at him. he didnt play for east fremantle

[Working Class]

No you have to see it from Kerr's perspective. Hunts phsique has been developed for the more power orientated Rugby codes. At his current size if he hit Kerr in a tackle. And I'm talking a Rugby tackle I'll put money on Kerr not getting up.

There is a huge danger for the AFL here. He'll make the transition and doing so destroy the AFL's credibility as a elite sport. It'll make a mockery of its image. And prove that the best athletes are in the Rugby codes.

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:45 ----------

I doubt any current AFL player could go the other way. Guys like Jonathan Brown and Co would be just average in either Rugby code.

[jono]

At his current size if he hit Kerr in a tackle. And I'm talking a Rugby tackle I'll put money on Kerr not getting up.

i'd pay to see that