Hunt has Irish eyes for Munster
Dan Koch | July 03, 2009
Article from: The Australian
EUROPEAN rugby union giant Munster has emerged as a frontline candidate to secure Broncos star Karmichael Hunt.
As revealed in The Weekend Australian last month, Hunt will pursue his blossoming career overseas next season, having turned his back on a $425,000 deal from the Broncos.
Hunt, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is weighing up two offers from Japanese rugby and has also attracted interest from Super League clubs.
However, it is believed Hunt is giving serious consideration to accepting a deal with Irish powerhouse Munster.
As well as providing a far stronger competition than Japan, Munster boasts the added lure of having Hunt's high school coach Tony McGahan at the helm.
Hunt yesterday reiterated his desire to wait until the end of the State of Origin series before announcing his decision.
However, Broncos fans will tonight be given a glimpse into the future without him in the No1 jumper, after he succumbed to the ankle injury he sustained in last Sunday's loss to Parramatta.
Exciting youngster Josh Hoffman, who is a cousin of dual international Wendell Sailor, has been handed the job for tonight's match against the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
He spent much of yesterday morning's training session picking Hunt's brain.
"He is a good kid. He has a heap of talent," Hunt said of the man who may well replace him next season.
"He has good pace and great feet and he has that knack of knowing where and when to chime into the backline, which all good fullbacks have.
"He is a pretty relaxed sort of guy. He won't be overawed."
Coach Ivan Henjak said Hunt had been close to playing but the risk of aggravating his ankle wasn't worth the risk.
"K just wasn't there; he didn't have the range to be able to run properly," Henjak said.
"It would have been a big risk to try to get 80 minutes of football out of him given we have only had the short, five-day turnaround between games.
"Maybe if he has another two days, but he just wasn't right."
Hoffman made his debut as part of the baby Broncos squad last season and retained his place the following week before dropping back to Brisbane's Toyota Cup side.
Off-season shoulder surgery delayed his start this year, but Henjak said Hoffman, 20, was one of the leading candidates to replace Hunt next season.
"He hasn't played a lot of football this year, which is why we didn't use him in the Sharks game," Henjak said.
"But he has a few games under his belt now and he will do a good job for us. He is in the frame (to replace Hunt).
"We have to get through this year first and Karmichael is here for now. We will make a decision on who we will go with in pre-season, but Josh is certainly in the picture."
Some welcome familiar faces also breezed through yesterday's hit-out.
International right-side pairing Justin Hodges (knee) and Israel Folau (sternum) along with comeback kid Tonie Carroll are all set to take their places in what is a must-win game for both clubs.
Tipped to be premiership contenders this season, the Broncos (ninth) and Warriors (11th) have just one win between them in the past four rounds and risk losing touch with the top eight.
"It is going to be a tough match," Henjak said.
"It is always physical against the Warriors, and they are getting to a stage in their season where they need some wins.
"It won't be fatal if either side loses, but it will certainly put a bit more pressure on.
"We were roughly in the same position, points-wise, last year except for our for-and-against and we went into our next game and lost.
"We still managed to finish fifth, so it won't be fatal to us.
"But in terms of our confidence heading into the bye, it is an important game for us."
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