NEWS Karmichael to the rescue

For young Broncos like Jesse Arthars, the opportunity to play outside returning multicode marvel Karmichael Hunt isn't just another day at the office, it's a childhood dream come true:

“Personally, playing outside him, it’s going to be massive for me. K was massive for this club back in the day and I’m sure he’s really looking forward to it. For myself and all the boys in the team, everyone’s looking forward to him playing. Growing up, I watched a lot of K. He was one of those players I idolised as an outside back so to put on the jumper with him this week is going to be massive.”

And it's not something Karmichael Hunt is taking it lightly either:

“To hear that makes you feel like you’ve got a huge responsibility playing alongside these guys. For me to run out there at the age I am and the stage they are in their career, it’s a huge privilege. It’s something I’ve cherished the opportunity to come back and give my knowledge to these guys.”

“It’s been a long time since I pulled on this jersey. To be told by Kevvie over the weekend that I might be playing again, I was definitely excited. I tried to manifest it in my imagination earlier in the year, but I wasn’t so sure it would actually happen with the stage I was at in my career and been out of the game for so long."

“There’s definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. This is a super talented group. Obviously it’s an inexperienced group and there’s no secret about that but everyone turns up here every day wanting to get better. The boys are putting the effort in and in due time the rewards are going to come, I have every bit of confidence in that.”



“2004 was a nervous time but an exciting time for me. I remember coming into the shed as a 17-year-old with the likes of Locky, Webby, Petero, Gorden Tallis, who was captain then. I had looked up to all of them having grown up in Brisbane and watching them all play. I don’t actually remember too much of my first game, but it was a memorable year. For a kid to be in that shed with Wayne Bennett as a coach, it was definitely a nerve-racking experience but one that set me up for my career.”

“As a fan, the overpolicing of the head high tackles in the first couple of rounds was probably hard to watch, but I understand why the NRL did it. They set up RBTs on Easter Weekend just to make sure people don’t drink and drive and it’s the same as the head contact ruling. They came out hard because they wanted everyone to take note. I haven’t watched every game but there’s been less sin bins and less high shots in recent weeks, so they’ve had the impact they wanted to have. The players are safer for it.

“I’m happy the rule is brought in because I have a son who might play footy one day and we only get one brain and one head so the more we look after it, the better.”

"It’s probably a social discussion now which is more prevalent, I probably understand my mental space a lot more. As I said, I was 17-years-old in a shed with grown men and there was no time to lick your wounds. It helped me in good stead for many parts of my career, but when it came to my personal choices and how I was feeling, it probably worked against me."

“The journey from going away from league and all of my off-field issues, I’ve got a greater appreciation for mental health and looking after my mental health. I’m a bit more understanding of it and I’m a bit more resilient because I know life has its ups and downs naturally. We’re all human. We all feel things."

“The understanding for me now is that it’s OK to ride the wave of emotions and be open about the way you’re feeling. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

“There’s always pressure when you put on a Broncos jersey and I’ve been in pressure situations before, but internally I’m just looking forward to helping contribute to the club that gave me a start as a 17-year-old.”

McHunt
 
Broncos fans always looking for the next ray of hope. Hunt is 34! He's been ordinary in the QRL!

The only ray of hope is for the entire board to be sacked and the front office of the NRL for undermining the club for over two years.
You say that like we don't already know
 
He's been an elite performer in every sport he has played, just seeing the images of him training he looks like he's in good shape.

I can't see this being a situation where he comes into the team and looks that far out of his depth that it's embarrassing. Some players love the big stage, playing for the Magpies in front of 200 people probably isn't the stage Karmichael performs under.

It's a wait and see for mine.
 
What happens if by some miracle he is good?

How would it be considered a miracle?

He has always been a classy player, early on he used his athleticism to catapult himself into defensive lines but you could see the class was there when setting up his outside men with those cut out passes and grubbers in behind.

The memory of him beheading Braith Anasta makes him an instant starter.
 
How's this for a job reference.

Wayne Bennett:


“I’m so pleased Karmichael is back. Karmichael should have been their next captain and a Bronco for life, absolutely. If I never left the Broncos, Karmichael never would have left. I remember going into a contract meeting with Karmichael and the Broncos and he said to his manager, I don’t care what the Broncos offer me, I want to stay here with Wayne and I’ll take the offer. “

“Then I left the Broncos and he left 12 months later because they didn’t value him. They had a bit of a blue over money when his next contract came up and I don’t think they appreciated what he brought and who he was. Unfortunately, he won’t be at his best now because he’s at the wrong end of his career — but he should never have left the Broncos.”

“NRL coaching might be his next stop and it wouldn’t surprise me at all. Karmichael is one of the greatest talents I ever worked with. Darren Lockyer, Darius Boyd and Karmichael made their debuts as teenagers and they were the only three to survive that, bringing them in so young. We won the premiership in 2006 and he was only 19. He was just outstanding in all facets. Not only tough, but a great trainer, had a great attitude, he was great to other teammates in the club."

“Karmichael has always been a worldly sort of guy. He could be an NRL coach. I have no doubt he would succeed as a coach, he could achieve anything he sets his mind to. Hunt revealed he consulted Bennett on the prospect of coaching before launching his comeback with Broncos feeder-club Souths Logan this season."

Hunt:

“I’ve been chatting to Wayne over the last couple of years about seriously coaching. He said I didn’t have to get back into the game to play, but for me I wanted to get back in. I still feel like I can play the game, but absolutely, that NRL coaching is the goal."

“I’ve played the game since I was four years old. This is home for me. I know I chose to experience different games and see what I could do professionally, but I always wanted to get back to league and give back. The best way I can do that is as a coach.”

McHunt
 
I'll be happy if he just defends well. Doesn't have to do anything special. Just makes his tackles.
 
Wayne Bennett says:

“I’m so pleased Karmichael is back,” Bennett said on the eve of Hunt’s first NRL game in 12 years. “The truth is he should never have been lost to the Broncos.

“Karmichael should have been their next captain and a Bronco for life, absolutely.

“If I never left the Broncos (at the end of 2008 to join the Dragons), Karmichael never would have left.

“I remember going into a contract meeting with Karmichael and the Broncos and he said to his manager, I don’t care what the Broncos offer me, I want to stay here with Wayne and I’ll take the offer. “The manager nearly fell off his chair.

“Then I left the Broncos and he left 12 months later because they didn’t value him.

“They had a bit of a blue over money when his next contract came up and I don’t think they appreciated what he brought and who he was. Unfortunately, he won’t be at his best now because he’s at the wrong end of his career — but he should never have left the Broncos.”

“NRL coaching might be his next stop and it wouldn’t surprise me at all,” Bennett said.

“Karmichael is one of the greatest talents I ever worked with.

“Darren Lockyer, Darius Boyd and Karmichael made their debuts as teenagers and they were the only three to survive that, bringing them in so young.

“We won the premiership in 2006 and he was only 19. He was just outstanding in all facets. Not only tough, but a great trainer, had a great attitude, he was great to other teammates in the club.

“Karmichael has always been a worldly sort of guy. He could be an NRL coach. I have no doubt he would succeed as a coach, he could achieve anything he sets his mind to.”
 
Didn’t the suns offer him like 2 million bucks a year.
 
Didn’t the suns offer him like 2 million bucks a year.

it was definitely over a million ... i can't remember what the cap was, but IIRC the very best NRL players were only on 600k or something.
 
Yeah, I'm not really buying tbh. We let numerous good players go in preparation for retaining Hunt and then the Suns swooped in with a huge amount of cash and blew us out of the water.
 
it was definitely over a million ... i can't remember what the cap was, but IIRC the very best NRL players were only on 600k or something.

The amount was unheard of at the time and well beyond what an NRL club could offer. Maybe Folau was 2mil?
 
Hunt was offered a million a year for 3 years and Folau was subsequently offered 1.4m a year over 3 years.

Keep in mind that was 2009, I don't think any NRL player was on close to a million back then.
 
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