Queenslanders Scott Prince (left) and Karmichael Hunt (centre) embrace after the final whistle of the NRL State of Origin match between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 11, 2008. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
It was described as a coup, the “biggest shot” fired yet in AFL’s battle with the NRL. If so, that shot fired by the AFL – its signing of Karmichael Hunt – was a shot fired at its own foot.
Despite hysterical reporting that Hunt’s switch from rugby league to the Victorian game is cause for concern for the NRL, it’s the AFL that should be most worried. In Hunt, the AFL inherits huge risk – on and off-the-field – with few likely benefits, while recent history shows the NRL marches on from player defections.
Gold Coast AFL officials were quick to say Hunt hadn’t been signed as a publicity stunt. Hopefully that’s true, because if Hunt was signed to create buzz for the new franchise and generate more support, the AFL has chosen the wrong player.
The risk for the AFL in signing Hunt was best summed up by Andrew Webster
in the Daily Telegraph. Hunt was involved in a major off-field incident last year, along with Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd, which derailed the Broncos finals campaign. He was also part of the Queensland squad embroiled in drug-taking dramas before State of Origin 3.
Hunt has had a reputation for being a party boy of Brisbane. Considering Andrew Demetriou’s recent attempt to claim the moral high-ground over rugby league’s handling of on-field violence, his willingness to sign a player with considerable poor off-field form looks pretty strange.
Look at the contrast. Gold Coast’s new rugby league franchise – the Titans – first signed players were Preston Campbell and Scott Prince – two players at the top of their games, and who the public relate to and trust. Campbell and Prince have since proved themselves to be outstanding citizens and family-orientated people, and set the standard for the new club.
Gold Coast Titans CEO Michael Searle confirmed their impact: “The first person we recruited was Preston Campbell, and as soon as you say that, you set the culture for the club. What has this recruitment done – when, no offence to Karmichael, but they concentrate their recruitment on a gun for hire, a mercenary.”
In Australia’s cut-throat sporting market, positive players such as Campbell and Price are like gold, and crucial to rugby league success – and hopefully AFL’s demise – on the Gold Coast.
At the moment Hunt is rated below fullbacks Brett Stewart, Billy Slater, Jarryd Hayne and Kurt Gidley. As a crowd-pleaser he is perhaps behind Campbell, Matt Bowen, and the returning Anthony Minichiello. In terms of commitment and whole-heartedness, he falls behind elusive Kiwi Sam Perrett and Luke Patten, a player getting better with age.
So who should the AFL have targeted? Rugby League and AFL are completely different sports – for those that call the latter a sport – and demand different skill sets. The two rugby league players best suited to the AFL game are Darren Lockyer and Jamie Soward. Both players glide around the field, have a sharp kicking game and solid hands. They would thrive in the mid-field. Lockyer played AFL as a youngster and former rugby league coach Phil Gould believes Soward to be the most similar to Lockyer, but with added acting ability.
Hunt will have to get used to lower standards in the AFL. Fortunately for many AFL players, you don’t have to fully catch the ball when taking a mark in the southern code (unlike taking catches in cricket).
Players who you miss the goal target are also rewarded with a point – something not available to league goalkickers such as Hazem El Masri and Johnathan Thurston.
I’m not an avid AFL watcher, but of all the players I’ve seen the one that most resembled a rugby league player was former Sydney Swans captain Paul Kelly. It’s no surprise to know he played both sports in his younger days in the Riverina.
Hailing from the same town as Kelly was former Canterbury and Australian Test fullback Greg Brentnall. Brentnall – who was close to the famous Mortimers – was actively courted by two VFL clubs before deciding to join Canterbury in 1977.
Brentnall’s style as a rugby league player offered glimpses of the Victorian game. It was clear he used skills gained playing Aussie Rules during his league career. Brentnall possessed the best kicking game in his era, and was the first kicker to experiment with the banana kick. He was also a fantastic jumper for the ball.
Commenting on Hunt, Brentnall said, “It’s a huge risk. AFL’s changed a lot from when I was involved. It’s certainly a lot more sanitised, it’s a possession game. That’s where it’s a bit more of a risk because of the kicking skills in particular.
“Whilst our kicking skills have evolved over the last 10 years or so, they have to hit a target every time. When I was playing AFL you’d kick to a contest, but now you’ve got to kick to a target. You can’t just kick to a contest because the game is so much about possession.
“He’s got the attributes that would indicate he’s got what it takes to make the level, but I don’t know whether I’d be hanging my hat on him, and building the club around him.”
NRL CEO David Gallop described Hunt’s decision to join AFL as a personal one, and not a reflection on the game. He would never say so publicly, but he is probably happy Hunt is going. In his article Webster suggested the Broncos too would be relieved to see the back of an off-field headache.
Gold Coast Titans CEO Michael Searle was scathing, but accurate, in his analysis of the signing. “It reeks of desperation if you’ve got to recruit a rugby league player to play AFL.
“Now the monster’s out of the bag, they’re not going to be able to put it back in, and they’ve paid top dollar to do it. It’s the worst decision they could have made. Rest assured, the Gold Coast region won’t tolerate a circus.”
“It could be the most expensive media stunt in the history of sport. If the AFL have got to recruit rugby league players, geez they’re in trouble.”
Worse still for the AFL, its expensive publicity will barely affect the NRL. Hunt may attract certain supporter elements to AFL, but the NRL wont shed a tear about that.
Rugby league has also shown itself to be resilient to raids from other codes. Despite the ARU’s raid on rugby league in 2001-02, most of those players have found their way back to rugby league and it has widely been reported rugby union paid a heavy financial price for little value.
Some credit must go to Hunt who unlike Willie Mason – who has talked endlessly about switches to boxing, rugby union and NFL – has followed through.
But the desire of the man – who the AFL is building its Gold Coast franchise dreams on – to play so many different codes in such a short period of time brings its own set of problems for the AFL.
After rugby league and rugby union in 2010 and AFL in 2011, what will be next for Karmichael Hunt?
In Edition 16 of Discord this week, Rleague.com weekly feature columnist Steve Mascord says the ARL must act tough against clubs that won’t make players available for Test selection, he looks at rule changes to govern on-field fights, touches on Karmichael Hunt’s code switch and signs off with a crack at the RLIF’s planning ability. You can read Discord by clicking here. Matthew O’Neill is a Director and Columnist with www.rleague.com.
Dave
Guest
No not the on field intensity, the “24 hour…AFL in your face” off field intensity of the southern states might wear him down. Considering sometimes he looks like he doesn’t even care that much about Rugby league. Maybe if he can play AFL in Sydney he might be alright.
Dave
Guest
twice a year
Dave
Guest
There were two games in Canberra this year http://stats.rleague.com/afl/crowds/vn_manuka_oval.html
Dave
Guest
Darwin has a population of only 120000 so is to small to have a team in the AFL. The Northern Territory Thunder Football Club does play in the QAFL.
Dave
Guest
Western Sydney and the Gold Coast have more people than Tasmania. You’re allowed to expand your game. Were you angry when soccer started doing this. The NRL even has a team in Melbourne. I think that Greg Brentnall would be surprised to hear you’ve done him out of a job http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25406464-5016545,00.html League storms into AFL's fortress I think that people west of Ashfield would be surprised to find out that RU was part their culture.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Mick it's all yours. The Kaleen centre has gone to the dogs ever since The Cutting Crew changed hands.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Giralang is going from strength to strength. I rarely if ever see kids with a sherryn or AFL shirts. On the other hand the bright red T-shirts of the North Canberra Bears junior ruby league club are everywhere. And it's been like this for years. I'm thinking of running for mayor of Giralang.
Dave
Guest
while theres life……….. theres hope
Richard
Guest
Billo, According to the Aust Bureau of Census and Stats, the fastest growing state in Australia at the end of Dec was WA at 3.1%, followed by Qld at 2.5%, NT at 2.0% and Vic at 1.9%. NSW was 6th at 1.4%. In terms of absolute numbers, Qld was first, followed by Vic and then NSW. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0/ Don't know what that proves, but there it is for what its worth. Now in terms of population at footy games? I was at an AFL game between Collingwood and Carlton two weeks ago at the MCG, a home and away game, and the crowd was 85,000 people. And that wasn't the first time I've been in a home and away crowd that size this year. Its a great feeling, believe me. Especially the Roar, when your team runs out onto the ground.
Billo
Guest
I don't doubt that Melbourne is a greater sporting city than any other city in Australia, but, just to clarify, when I referred to 'important' states, I meant in terms of population growth. I think I'm right in saying that both NSW and Queensland are growing faster than Victoria, although I guess that WA is too.
Redb
Roar Guru
DOW, The AFL is not targetting league fans per se. AFL does stand for Australian Football League and is also known by fans as league footy. A bit precious to object to it methinks. It's about the different elements of the game. I can understand the 'game that made Australia' not resonating with non fans. I thought the campaign was old hat and not that clever anyway. Certainly not like "I'd like to see that" of a few years ago. The AFL run a blank screen with just its logo and some would find fault. FYI... 129,000 (average) for the Swans game in Sydney - best ratings for the Swans for the whole year, substantially higher actually. Redb
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
That catchprase "The Greatest Game of All", was just to combat Unions "The game they play in heaven". Not sure what the AFL's is, probably something like "The Indigenous game"
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Hahaha....Service the current market! Swans and Lions both struggle to crack 100K in Sydney and Brisbane. Why a 2nd team is going to improve that is beyond me. But what it will do, is maybe create a sinkhole for those cash reserves, having to prop up 4 teams, when the first 2 where just treading water. There will be a lot of competition for sponsors, which will also in Sydney probably kill one or two NRL teams in the process, just because an AFL team requires at least twice as much money to run as a NRL team. Anyway, if you don't see how the AFL advertises into the Northern States, well not through our eye's anyway. When you use catchprases like "In a league of it's own", it done because they want league supporters. "The game that made Australia" is another one that makes me laugh. AFL means nothing to me, and I am Australian. How arrogant do you want to get?
Redb
Roar Guru
JF, The AFL has no presence on the Gold Coast. Western Sydney is a big market, like you said it makes sense. Just because the NRL is not ready for a 2nd Melb team doesnt mean they woudnt love to create one.You could argue Melb Victory service the soccer fans in Melbourne so why have a second team? It's about creating more of the 'product' in the market. 2 teams mean an AFL game every week in NSW and QLD. All codes wish to expand just not at the same rate. As for crusades i'd say beleiving RL is the "greatest game of all" has a certain fundamentalist ring to it. Plenty of hubris in all codes. Redb
Michael C
Guest
Mate - me thinx you use the word 'arrogant' too much. The are actually MORE AFL participants in each of NSW and QLD. The AFL actually NEEDS a 2nd team in each market to adequately service those markets at their current size let alone should those markets grow. Tell me, honestly, do you seriously believe an AFL team would work in the NT?? 'crusade-like way'..... the AFL is hardly going to dominate the NSW and QLD markets - thus, how can you claim they seek national dominance? And - if not the AFL, then who should? Soccer? Union? League? Cricket? Hockey?
Redb
Roar Guru
Good post. I'd add that a certain league forum doesn't exacty cover itself in glory either, luckily the Roar attempts to maintain decent debate above indecent debacle. It is not arguable that the NRL dominates in NSW and QLD, however it is entirely arguable that they are the two 'most important' states, given that spheres of infleunce in this country are clearly Sydney and Melbourne, daylight third. It is not arrogant to suggest that the economic engine of the AFL is Melbourne and in a sporting sense it has a bigger sporting TV audience and crowds than Sydney despite a 10% pop differential. Redb
beaver fever
Roar Pro
Well i guess thats Canberra people .. generally pretty apathetic.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
The games the GC got from Rugby League where only trials. So it seems a pretty poor excuse to use. One game a year should mean you turn up to watch it, so that more games will come. But if you show no interest in attending, then I wouldn't be surprised when no more games come your way
beaver fever
Roar Pro
I think the kangaroos played in the ACT for a few years but its not really your own team to embrace and at the end of the day people work out that the only reason North played their was for the loot, and people dont like that idea. if i was still living in Canberra you wouldn't have caught me at what i would have considered a boring game Syd V Melb. Maybe get a cheap airfare to melbourne a couple of times a year and catch a weekend of footy, comedy club night and a casino or pub night, makes plenty more sense. But if a couple of good teams were playing then you would get a decent crowd.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
I suppose the difference is that they play once a year, so you would suspect they would get out in numbers to watch the game, much like league on the GC saw sell outs for many seasons before they got a licence. Raiders have been an average team for many years, and play 12 games a season, so people have more than enough opportunity to go and see the team if they like. That is the point.