The Hunt is over but the NRL will still prosper
Roar Guru
By Alan Nicolea, 31 Jul 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
Although I am not a Broncos fan, Hunt was a great asset for the NRL when he burst onto the scene in 2004. In his debut game for Brisbane, his irst touch of the football saw him on the end of a thunderous shoulder charge from then Warriors winger Francis Meli.
It was one of the shots of the NRL season.
But to Hunt’s credit, he played the ball quickly and showcased the toughness that would later see him develop into one of the NRL’s elite players.
Indeed, six years on and Hunt has already won a Premiership with the Broncos, and has also played numerous times for QLD in Origin football, not to mention the Kangaroos in the Test arena.
For the way he has played the game of league, Hunt deserved all the accolades he received in an NRL career that unfortunately holds little interest to him anymore.
Despite his defection to the AFL, NRL fans should know that overcoming a loss of Hunt’s calibre is not impossible.
It was only last year that former Bulldogs superstar Sonny Bill Williams joined rugby union in a move that many thought would start an avalanche of player exodus from the NRL.
Now one only has to talk to a Bulldogs fan to know that Williams’ defection to France is the furtherest thing from their minds at this stage of the season.
The wonderful thing about the NRL is that it has been played long enough in this country to produce great players on a constant basis.
Despite the loss of Hunt and Williams, fans can still treat themselves to watching the supreme talents of Johnathon Thurston, Benji Marshall, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Justin Hodges and Darren Lockyer.
Yes, Hunt’s defection to the AFL will be considered a sad day in rugby league, but the NRL will recover from this small setback.
The game’s history suggests that rugby league has given birth to some of Australia’s greatest athletes, and the future should be no different.
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Billo said | July 31st 2009 @ 3:57am | Report comment
Some day someone will write a book about league with the title: “The World’s most resilient game”.
Mick from Giralang said | July 31st 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
The glowing praise from the AFL community about Hunt and his skills ( and a swathe of other league stars) forever disqualifies their supporters from making their usual snide remarks about “no neck monsters”. It is wonderful recognition of what rugby league supporters have known for a long time — that our game produces probably the best football athletes in the world. It is sad to lose Hunt from our game — but cast your eye over the queue of exciting young backline talent the Broncos has in waiting.
Pippinu said | July 31st 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
The word “defection” is an emotionally charged word.
1. He was (maybe still is) on the verge of leaving the Broncos to play union (and as we know, these days, that’s rarely a long term deal anyway).
2. There’s a very strong consensus emerging that he’ll be back playing league at the end of 3 years (I would certainly put the odds of that at at least 50/50).
3. As we speak, there are 10,000s of 13 to 16 year olds out there dabbling in more than one of the four codes played in Australia on any given weekend. A zillion variables will go into determining which one they end up sticking with (most will not make the elite level, so it won’t matter all that much).
Alan Nicolea said | July 31st 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Mick
Indeed look at Antonio Winterstein and once again Rugby League , let alone Brisbane has proof of why it continues to produce class athletes on a constant basis. The NRL talent crop will always be very strong and it will overcome Hunt’s move to another code.
Tom Alexander. said | July 31st 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
It was interesting to read that the Melbourne Storm have just followed in the footsteps of the Roosters by investigating the junior RU talent in South Africa. It’s almost as if all this stuff (players switching codes etc) goes around in cycles. Eventually what goes around comes around. Karmichael will be replaced in no time by a youngster eager to make his mark at the Broncos. People thought it was the end of the world when Tuquiri, Sailor and Rogers went to Union. Then along came Thurston, Inglis, Slater and Folau. Not bad replacements.
True Tah said | July 31st 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Mick
if RL produces the best athletes in the world, then why did they target any number of amateur union players throughout the ages, many of whom ended up with greater honours.
Dogs Of War said | August 1st 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
I don’t think Rugby League had anywhere near the systems in place as they do now. Things like academies to improve the players, sports schools that just didn’t exist then, as many more scouts to be able to identify the best talent and make sure they are put in programs etc.
I think that is one of the biggest failings of Union, they are more than happy to let GPS schools and the like develop the talent, but it isn’t enough.
Pippinu said | July 31st 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Of course options like South Africa should be explored – and that goes for all four codes by the way.
MyGeneration said | July 31st 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Games don’t produce great athletes, living in a great climate with a good diet and a vibrant, polycodal sporting culture produces great athletes
Worlds Biggest said | July 31st 2009 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
I would put money on K-Hunt having a crack at Union after AFL. If he does succeed in his 3 year sojourn he would have succeeded in two codes and perhaps might relish the opportunity to succeed at a third. He will be 26 when his AFL contract expires. He then may switch to Union and give himself 3 or 4 years to make it there and who know’s he may finish up back in League at age 30. The guy is so gifted I would back him in to do it. The same applies to Inglis and Folau if they chose to.
Mick from Giralang said | July 31st 2009 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
“polycodal sporting culture”
Fair dinkum, there is some pretentious waffle on these forums.
MyGeneration said | August 2nd 2009 @ 7:29am | Report comment
I’ll censor my dangerously pretentious waffle in future, Mick, and say things like “Fair dinkum” to show how true blue I really am. Fair dinkum, whatta knob!