Tweet
Penrith Panthers will pay $450,000 to sign Karmichael Hunt
By Peter Badel
April 05, 2009 Karmichael Hunt's close friends say the Brisbane Broncos star has had enough of the NRL, but that won't stop Penrith and the Bulldogs from trying to bring the former Test full-back to Sydney.
Panthers general manager Mick Leary said the club was prepared to pay up to $450,000 a season for Hunt, whose management is said to be seeking around $600,000.
"We're happy with Lachlan Coote at full-back but I think as a six (five-eighth) or seven (halfback), Karmichael would be pretty handy for us," Leary said.
"We have our recruitment meetings every fortnight. We've got a few of our boys coming off contract, but Karmichael's name will come up."
Bulldogs recruitment chief Peter Mulholland is prepared to have a crack at Hunt but would not break the bank.
"We've got a bit of movement within our cap, but the question is where the coach (Kevin Moore) sees him fitting in," Mulholland said.
"I still believe it will take a lot to get him out of Brisbane. Whether he wants to be there is the question."
The latest interest comes as The Sunday Telegraph learned of Hunt's growing disenchantment with his profile and the perceived fishbowl existence of life as an NRL star in Brisbane. Those close to Hunt say he is "over" the NRL and simply wants out.
Rocked by the Broncos' decision a fortnight ago to withdraw a three-year, $1.25million offer - the only concrete deal made to the full-back - Hunt, 22, is contemplating a football sabbatical in England, France or Japan.
Hunt's manager David Riolo will fly to Europe in the next fortnight. Riolo has several high-profile clients, including Manly's off-contract winger David Williams, although part of his brief will be sourcing big-money offers that provide an alternative to the challenges confronting Hunt in the NRL.
The Broncos insist they have not played games with Hunt.
On January 22, the club spoke informally to Riolo. By January 29, they had made an offer of $1.25million over three years. That is about $416,000 a season, enough to make Hunt among the top three earners at the Broncos.
By Peter Badel
April 05, 2009 Karmichael Hunt's close friends say the Brisbane Broncos star has had enough of the NRL, but that won't stop Penrith and the Bulldogs from trying to bring the former Test full-back to Sydney.
Panthers general manager Mick Leary said the club was prepared to pay up to $450,000 a season for Hunt, whose management is said to be seeking around $600,000.
"We're happy with Lachlan Coote at full-back but I think as a six (five-eighth) or seven (halfback), Karmichael would be pretty handy for us," Leary said.
"We have our recruitment meetings every fortnight. We've got a few of our boys coming off contract, but Karmichael's name will come up."
Bulldogs recruitment chief Peter Mulholland is prepared to have a crack at Hunt but would not break the bank.
"We've got a bit of movement within our cap, but the question is where the coach (Kevin Moore) sees him fitting in," Mulholland said.
"I still believe it will take a lot to get him out of Brisbane. Whether he wants to be there is the question."
The latest interest comes as The Sunday Telegraph learned of Hunt's growing disenchantment with his profile and the perceived fishbowl existence of life as an NRL star in Brisbane. Those close to Hunt say he is "over" the NRL and simply wants out.
Rocked by the Broncos' decision a fortnight ago to withdraw a three-year, $1.25million offer - the only concrete deal made to the full-back - Hunt, 22, is contemplating a football sabbatical in England, France or Japan.
Hunt's manager David Riolo will fly to Europe in the next fortnight. Riolo has several high-profile clients, including Manly's off-contract winger David Williams, although part of his brief will be sourcing big-money offers that provide an alternative to the challenges confronting Hunt in the NRL.
The Broncos insist they have not played games with Hunt.
On January 22, the club spoke informally to Riolo. By January 29, they had made an offer of $1.25million over three years. That is about $416,000 a season, enough to make Hunt among the top three earners at the Broncos.
Leaving the fish bowl that is brisbane for the fishbowl that is Penriff !!!!!!
Comment