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The Queensland Reds are expected to announce Karmichael Hunt and James O’Connor as the newest additions to their playing list at the club’s gala ball in Brisbane on Friday night.
After making a shock switch from the NRL, Hunt spent four seasons with AFL club the Gold Coast Suns before announcing his retirement from the code on Thursday.
Since it emerged that Hunt was planning another code switch, potential suitors began lining up to secure his signature – the Reds never far from the front of the pack.
James O’Connor’s return to the Australian rugby scene has not been surrounded with the same question marks as Hunt.
After escaping the Australian spotlight through stints with London Irish and Toulon, O’Connor has his eye on a return to the Wallabies squad under Ewen McKenzie.
James O’Connor looks set to line up next to former Wallaby team mate Will Genia once again – this time in red. (Tim Anger Photography)
Ever since watching him play for the Brisbane Broncos, Will Genia has been a big fan of Karmichael Hunt.
Now recovering Wallabies halfback Genia hopes the code-hopping Hunt becomes someone fellow new recruit James O’Connor looks up to at the Queensland Reds.
Genia would not confirm whether the Reds would officially announce O’Connor and Hunt as their key signings for 2015 at the Super Rugby club’s gala ball, but he certainly entertained the idea on Friday, saying Hunt would be an ideal role model for all Reds players – especially wayward Wallaby O’Connor.
Genia said they already had the leadership group to steer the once troubled O’Connor in the right direction but believed Hunt’s injection would prove invaluable.
“I think we have the leadership capabilities here to help him work through those issues,” he said of O’Connor, back from a French stint.
“But I think in his time away from Australia he has matured and grown as well.
“If someone like Karmichael comes along he can help as well.”
Genia on Friday sounded like the wide-eyed fan who first spied Hunt in Broncos colours when the code hopper was mentioned.
“I have never met him but I have heard a lot about him,” Genia said of Hunt who on Thursday announced he would end his four-year AFL stint with Gold Coast.
“I used to enjoy watching him as a little kid when he played for the Broncos.
“If he were to sign I would love to train and play alongside him – it would be awesome.
“He is obviously world renowned as a professional athlete.
“As a player he’s an unbelievable athlete, a great talent, much like Israel (Folau) in that sense.”
With AAP
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