Karmichael Hunt linked to new NRL club Central Coast Bears

Nick Walshaw From: Herald Sun April 14, 2011

KARMICHAEL Hunt will be back in rugby league by 2013 - and pitched as the new face of NRL expansion - if he continues to struggle with AFL.

If the Central Coast Bears are granted entry into the game, officials are ready to make a huge play for the AFL poster boy.

Hunt is struggling with his $3 million switch to Australian rules and comes out of contract with Gold Coast at the end of next year.

Should the AFL fight to keep Karmichael Hunt? Vote now and have your say.

The bid team - including coach-in-waiting Dave Fairleigh - is believed to have approached Hunt's manager David Riolo.

It is armed with a $10 million war chest and promises to make the former Queensland and Kangaroos fullback the face of its franchise.

Asked last night about the move to bring Hunt back to league, Fairleigh said: "Right at the moment it would be wrong to talk hypotheticals. But obviously we're moving forward, planning as if we're going to be playing in the NRL come 2013.

"And as a result, there are a number of marquee players we're considering, both here in Australia and in Great Britain.

"It's great to see a number of quality players not signing contracts beyond 2012 because they want to see what happens with expansion, see what opportunities might be out there."

Despite being signed up as the poster boy of AFL expansion, Hunt has struggled in his switch of codes.

While it's widely known several NRL clubs will make a play for the former Brisbane Bronco, the Bears are convinced they'll be able to beat their established rivals.

The Suns are aware of interest in Hunt and accept he may one day return to rugby league.

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna recently said he hoped Hunt would stay.

"Players always want to go home," McKenna said. "Karmichael going back to league would be no different to any player moving to the Gold Coast wanting to return to his roots," he said.

"It's up to us to provide a winning culture. I'm confident that in three years, should we enjoy some success and Karmichael plays a part in that success, he will want to stick around."

Hunt has indicated a possible return to NRL.

"I haven't left the NRL on bad terms and I am sure the door will still open down the track," he has said. "Who knows what the future holds?

"If two years ago you'd asked me if I'd be playing for an AFL team I'd have wondered what you are talking about.

"Who knows? I might even finish my career in the AFL."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/karmichael-hunt-linked-to-new-nrl-club-central-coast-bears/story-e6frf9jf-1226038731234

He may not be at the moment but he is still only 20, and will be in that category sooner rather than later.

It was a mammoth offer ! How they've fit that in is beyond me, considering Cartwright said 2 months ago they were squeezed. I guess losing Friend to NZ would help a little but still, that's a marquee salary and honestly I don't think he's worth it. He isn't in that game changer category.

At least we know now what really matters to Idris.

Matt Orford's been left out of the squad for Canberra this weekend.

Matt Orford's been left out of the squad for Canberra this weekend.

The signature of Wayne Bennett is the decisive bargaining chip Newcastle Knights need to attract key players and to fast-track their next premiership, Fox Sports rugby league experts predict.


Bennett's decision to join Newcastle Knights on a four-year contract has wide-ranging effects for the Hunter Valley club, not least their ability to attract marquee players away from the major, more glamorous cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

The Knights may have missed out on Jamal Idris, who is set to join Gold Coast Titans in 2012, but Penrith great Greg Alexander believes the cream of the NRL crop will now follow Bennett to Newcastle - starting with St George Illawarra star Darius Boyd.

"They've got some class players, there's no doubt about it, but they'll be looking to strengthen that squad," said Alexander, now a Fox Sports commentator.

"We'll see what Darius Boyd does. Kurt Gidley is already a great number one but he can also play in the halves.

"Now that Bennett has agreed to Newcastle, there'll be plenty of other players who want to follow him, too."

Former Kangaroos international Laurie Daley agreed, saying the acquisition of Bennett could deliver Newcastle another premiership as soon as "two to three years".

"They've already won two premierships and, with Wayne Bennett in charge, they're more than likley to go on and win another one," Fox Sports commentator Daley said.

"He may be able to transform them into a premiership-winning team within two or three years.

"He's got a great track record of achieving everywhere that he's been."

While expectations of another premiership in rapid time will most excite Newcastle fans, Daley suggested it was what Bennett offered the club in the long-term that could well be his legacy.

"What he will be able to do is set them up for the future," he said.

"With the financial backing of Nathan Tinkler, they'll have the best facilities; they'll be able to encourage the best players to go there ... their membership will grow.

"It's a mad passionate football area, and you can only see good times ahead for Newcastle."

As Knights fans await the arrival of the seven-time premiership coach, Alexander says recruitment will be a priority for a club he believes will struggle to make the finals this season.

"I think Newcastle are in a battle to make the eight this year," he said.

"There'll be plenty of things to work on, but there is the basis of a pretty good side there, in particular around the halves, and the outside backs ... they've got some pretty good backrowers, too.

"So there is only a couple of positions that they need to add to strengthen."

Wayne Bennett will coach the Newcastle Knights on a four-year deal beginning in the 2012 NRL season.

And Jamal Idris has quit the Canterbury Bulldogs and will play for the Gold Coast Titans from 2012.

The news from Newcastle comes after weeks of speculation about Bennett's future after he announced he would be leaving reigning premiers St George Illawarra at the end of the current season.

Advertisement: Story continues below Bennett's decision means he will link up with multi-millionaire mining magnate Nathan Tinkler at the Knights – and it is strongly believed the Dragons star fullback, Darius Boyd, will follow the man who first brought him to prominence with Brisbane to Newcastle.

The Titans will announce their signing of Idris at 1pm.

The NSW centre had been pursued by the Knights and the Bulldogs were desperate to retain him, but he has accepted a contract with Gold Coast and will head to the Queensland tourist strip for the 2012 season.

South Sydney had also believed they were in the running to secure Bennett’s services after he last week told his former club, the Broncos, he would not be heading back to Queensland.

The seven-times premiership coach said his decision was based around the vision and passion of Tinkler, combined with the lifestyle offered by Newcastle and the Hunter region.

"I sat down with Nathan and was struck by his passion and knowledge of rugby league," said Bennett in a statement issued by the Tinkler Sports Group.

"Private ownership appeals to me. I like it. This guy wants to take Newcastle to another level.

"He wants our game to capture the imagination of the Hunter like never before - for the Knights to be the benchmark of rugby league in this country.

"That is the type of challenge that appeals to me.

"The Knights have already won two premierships and have been a great club despite struggling with their finances. And that’s where Nathan Tinkler comes in."

The move means Bennett will have the chance to become the first coach to win premierships with three different clubs, having won six with Brisbane and one with the Dragons.

Bennett said he hoped current Knights coach Rick Stone would remain at the club and work there with him.

Shark shame as night turns sour

Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph April 11, 2011

CRONULLA have been accused of disrespecting the club's greatest player, Steve Rogers, after Saturday night's last-second 19-13 loss to Manly at Toyota Stadium.

Sharks officials were yesterday having to answer heavy criticism about a disastrous night that included:

* SHARKS players walking off the field before the Steve Rogers Shield was presented;

* FANS queuing up for more than hour to buy food;

* FANS being told caterers Red Rooster had run out of pies, hamburgers and chips.

* A FIGHT on the northern hill in which a police officer was injured; and

* LONG queues in the club after a fire in the kitchen.

The Steve Rogers Shield is a perpetual trophy that Cronulla and Manly play for in honour of the Sharks' finest player.

Rogers' son, Don, waited on the field to present the shield to Manly captain Jamie Lyon but Cronulla were already in their dressing room.

"It wasn't bad sportsmanship but we admit that the communication breakdown was poor," Sharks chairman Damian Irvine said. "It wasn't the players' fault.

"By the time they found out and wanted to come back out, it was too late. It was a bad look but it wasn't malicious.

"I was a good friend of Steve and there was no disrespect intended."

A Cronulla fan contacted The Daily Telegraph to say: "I couldn't believe how they could disrespect such a legend."

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan took the blame, saying: "My rookie mistake there. By the time I got down from the sheds, the presentation was done. I take responsibility."The poor catering meant one fan spent 83 minutes in a line trying to buy food.

"I took my six-year-old to his first game at Shark Park - it will be his last too," he said.

Irvine said the queues started when a catering truck needed to be repaired.

The fight prompted a fan's email that said: "Warning: Stay away from Shark Park."

"A police officer was injured and that was unacceptable," Irvine said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/shark-shame-as-night-turns-ugly/story-e6frexnr-1226036892292

Obviously looking back on it now we should never have got rid of him, but we had just won the comp and had Anasta and Sherwin. He was never going to get ahead of them and needed to leave

Roy Asotasi is the same, was never going to get consistent game time playing for us and needed to leave.

Asotasi nowhere near the same category.

The reason I ask is it's not everyday you let a bloke go and he turns out to be one of the best in the world.

Most of these blokes tend to be one club men. Just thought dogs fans would be annoyed about this.

Syd in ur name and your a doggies fan. Yeah mate, it was for you ;)

I've always wanted to ask a dogs fan what they think when they see Thurston these days ? A player that couldn't get a run and now he's one of the best players in the world. In that time the dogs have had some decent halfbacks but no JT's. Wondering your thoughts or if you know of other dogs fans thoughts ?

Is that a question for me :lol:?
If so, since 97

Is that a question for me :lol:?
If so, since 97

Hey syd how long you been a doggiiiieeeeees fan ?