The Hunt is over but the NRL will still prosper
Roar Guru By Alan Nicolea, 31 Jul 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Billy Slater, Brett Stewart, Darren Lockyer, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, NRL, Rugby League, Sonny Bill Williams
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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July 31st 2009 @ 2:51pm
Pippinu said | July 31st 2009 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Mick
did they shut down Giralang Primary School before you were able to finish Year 6???
August 2nd 2009 @ 12:05am
John Ryan said | August 2nd 2009 @ 12:05am | Report comment
If I had been running the Broncos Hunt would be playing 3 rd grade in outer Prospine,once a dog always a dog the same as SBW, Gaz,piss em off and never let them back
August 2nd 2009 @ 9:05am
BrisbaneBhoy said | August 2nd 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
@ John Ryan – I take it you are one of those people who has been at the same job since you entered the work force?? I have some news for you. You may or may not realise this, but there is nothing wrong with having a change. If someone wants to have a change – Be it work, town where they live, etc, etc it’s his/hers right. There is nothing wrong with that.
It also doesn’t matter why they switched. Be it for a new challenge, new life style or even for more money. Your every day Joe changes jobs for those exact reasons every day (money the main reason). Why should a sports person be treated any differently?? They shouldn’t! If they feel it is the right thing for the them and their family they have every right just as everyone of us have.
August 2nd 2009 @ 12:04pm
Mick from Giralang said | August 2nd 2009 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
“’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!”
That’s more like it!
August 3rd 2009 @ 7:37am
Crosscoder said | August 3rd 2009 @ 7:37am | Report comment
BrisbaneBhoy couldn;t agree more,eveyone is entitiled to choose where they work or play.Conversely people at the institutions where they once worked are entitled to say,you left once,we will find a suitable replacement,so there is no room to come back.We have plan B.
I mean for 100 years,anyone in amateur union who dared to earn money playing rugby league was treated by some at times as an outcast..All that just for individuals to get recompense for injury time off or earning a living.Than heavens those repressive times have changed.
Everyone has the right to choose,but when it is so blatantly obvious that copious amounts of money is the lure,please don’t bring the “challenge’ argument cliche into it, as sportspeople tend to do.