Karmichael Hunt NRL > AFL?

[Dave]

Apparenty he is considering joining Gold Coast.

From the SMH:

Karmichael Hunt to join AFL - LHQNews - leaguehq.com.au

This makes things interesting. I would love to see how he would stack up.

[desredandwhite]

That's bizarre. You most often hear of league/rugby crossovers as the skills required are very similar. However mind you, there's plenty of fullbacks, halfbacks and wingers who would have the skills required to make a switch. Just have to practice the low, fast drop punt, not the hang-time torp!!

[Dave]

Confirmed:

Karmichael Hunt to join AFL - LHQNews - leaguehq.com.au

Ha! League now has to cop it from two codes eyeing off its players now. I would love to see Billy Slater switch too.

Maybe they can have Baz in exchange...

[laughingnome]

Holy moly, I thought Hunt was a fair size older, looking for a couple of bucks before he retired. 22! There's 10 years in that body!

[pinkemu]

Hunt has the right build for the real game and is a very tough player. I dispise him in the Origin but admire him at the same time.

It would be an interesting experiment to watch the Kiwi turned Aussie turn in to a real Aussie.

[Cant turn right]

I don't know that much about NRL, I know he is a pretty big fish. What would his stature be equivalent to in AFL terms? A Buddy or a Kosi, or something like our own J McVeigh?

[ugg]

How tall is he? Would he become a KPP/ruck like Pyke or a running player?

[pinkemu]

I'd say a similar build to Buddy but a little shorter. Hunt is a very versatile player in league switching from Fulback to five eighth so there is no reason he couln't play in a number of positions.

[dread and might]

I like it. Good luck to him.

[ugg]

I'd say a similar build to Buddy but a little shorter. Hunt is a very versatile player in league switching from Fulback to five eighth so there is no reason he couln't play in a number of positions.

Wikipedia says he's 186cm 90kg, so probably just a little short to play KPP.

[Doctor]

They might look to start him off as a tagger I guess. Having a year in the local league with all the draft picks can only help him too.

[Wardy]

He played CHF in his schools days - and was apparently being looked at by the QLD AFL developments bods - still, doesnt mean that he is instantly made for senior footy - but at least he knows the rules!

[jono2707]

He is one of the toughest players around - not all that big (not small) so not a KPP, but he will be a beauty at AFL I reckon. He has the right combination of silky skills and toughness, with a wicked step thrown in. What a brilliant PR coup for the new GC franchise too.

BTW plenty of league players can kick properly these days. The drop punt is the kick of choice now and someone like Karmichael will be fine in that aspect of the game.

[Wardy]

this could be the tip of thie iceberg - there are players like Inglis, Slater, Covell and others who can not only kick the ball a mile, but can take a good mark under pressure - of course it doesn't mean they would necessarily make it in senior AFL, but gees those skills wouldnt go astray.

We have a joke going here in the office that Matt Rogers will sign up - he's played League, went to Union, went back to League - so why not give AFL a bash (its not like he has far to drive to go to training being on the gold Coast and all!)! then he might try out for the A-league

[ugg]

They might look to start him off as a tagger I guess. Having a year in the local league with all the draft picks can only help him too.

I'd imagine half-back flanker, at least to start with.