Reds put Storm star on radar
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Reds put Storm star on radar
By Jim Tucker and Karl deKroo
January 22, 2009
QUEENSLAND Reds have slammed the door on off-contract Brisbane Broncos star Karmichael Hunt, instead preparing a big-money pitch to lure Queensland Origin prospect Will Chambers from Melbourne Storm.
Hunt's management have indicated the Maroons custodian is be open to a code switch from rugby league to rugby union, but Reds coach Phil Mooney on Wednesday dismissed any prospect of a poaching raid.
Hunt has held initial contract talks with the Broncos, and the club hopes to have a new deal locked down by the end of March. Mooney also doused any ploy of playing one code off against the other to bump up his price.
"You look at players with a real interest in the game and fit for your team profile, but I'm just not convinced Karmichael Hunt has a genuine interest in rugby," Mooney said.
"There are league people pretty quick to throw up rugby as an option for every player, but, basically, we're not interested.
"We've got (former Canberra Raiders half-back) Mark McLinden playing his first trial for the Reds at full-back on Saturday. He rang us with a genuine desire to play."
Mooney, keen to bolster his outside centre stocks for 2009, meanwhile said that Chambers, 20, was on the radar because of the Melbourne centre's schoolboy rugby experience.
"We keep an interest in guys who have come through the rugby system," Mooney said.
"Will went to Nudgee and played juniors with (Australia international) Quade Cooper," Mooney said.
"He's got a big year ahead for the Storm since they've lost Israel Folau so we'll keep an eye on him for sure."
Chambers, already labelled by Queensland coach Mal Meninga as an Origin prospect, impressed in the first half of last season for the Storm before he underwent a knee reconstruction.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy conceded the club faced a challenge to hold on to Chambers as they were under salary cap pressure after three consecutive NRL grand final appearances.
"I think there has been a fair bit of interest shown there (by the Reds)," Bellamy said. "But he's ours for another year and we'd be pretty keen to keep him.
"He is one of those guys who could play union. He is very competitive, very aggressive and has a lot of talent."
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Originally Posted by TOCC
