Queenslander
31-03-06, 08:54 PM
Broncos to hold talks with Hunt
Friday, March 31, 2006 - 4:31 PM
Brisbane could begin contract talks with young fullback Karmichael Hunt as early as next week with the club keen to re-sign eight players before the NRL's June 30 anti-tampering deadline.
Hunt, being chased to play Test football for New Zealand, and veteran warhorse prop Shane Webcke head chief executive Bruno Cullen's list.
Also coming off contract are backrower David Stagg, impressive young prop Ben Hannant, wingers Scott Minto, Tame Tupou and Leon Bott and specialist utility Casey McGuire, who has an option in his favour for 2007.
Cullen expects to have informal discussions with Hunt's manager David Riolo when the Broncos play the Dragons in Wollongong on Sunday.
"I think David lives in Wollongong. Every time we're down there he comes in for a beer and a chat," said Cullen.
"I won't be talking formally to him, but I'll be lining up a time to talk next week."
Webcke is weighing up whether to sign a new contract or retire.
"When Shane signed his last contract which finishes this year, the feeling was 'that would probably be it'," said Cullen.
"But both parties agreed the final decision would be left open for discussion.
"Shane's always said he'll let me know well before the 30th of June.
"There'll come a time within the next few months where we'll both sit down and talk.
"We need to know if we need to plug that gap or not."
Cullen was not sure which way Webcke would go.
"He lifted us to a win against Cronulla and he was great against Parramatta last week.
"But if you look at him, I think the games are taking a toll on him.
"I'm not trying to talk him into retirement, but come mid-season, I think he'll definitely know."
Cullen said Hannant, who some onlookers say is a young Webcke, has impressed everyone since arriving at the club with some excess baggage.
Hannant left the Sydney Roosters for a one-year agreement with Brisbane this season. He is playing for little more than match payments, but on what he's shown, is likely to be around the club for a while.
"We'd been keen to keep Ben, he's been great since coming back and not just on the field," Cullen said.
"When he first came to the club as a teenager he picked up the nickname Nick Nolte, after the Hollywood actor.
"His hair was blond, long an untidy and he carried a bit of weight.
"They still call him Nick but it doesn't suit him as much now because he's a lot tidier and he's lost some of his weight.
"When he got here he was out of shape.
"He's obviously had a good think about where he is at and where he wants to go in life and decided he has to put his head down and done all the right things."
Source: AAP
Friday, March 31, 2006 - 4:31 PM
Brisbane could begin contract talks with young fullback Karmichael Hunt as early as next week with the club keen to re-sign eight players before the NRL's June 30 anti-tampering deadline.
Hunt, being chased to play Test football for New Zealand, and veteran warhorse prop Shane Webcke head chief executive Bruno Cullen's list.
Also coming off contract are backrower David Stagg, impressive young prop Ben Hannant, wingers Scott Minto, Tame Tupou and Leon Bott and specialist utility Casey McGuire, who has an option in his favour for 2007.
Cullen expects to have informal discussions with Hunt's manager David Riolo when the Broncos play the Dragons in Wollongong on Sunday.
"I think David lives in Wollongong. Every time we're down there he comes in for a beer and a chat," said Cullen.
"I won't be talking formally to him, but I'll be lining up a time to talk next week."
Webcke is weighing up whether to sign a new contract or retire.
"When Shane signed his last contract which finishes this year, the feeling was 'that would probably be it'," said Cullen.
"But both parties agreed the final decision would be left open for discussion.
"Shane's always said he'll let me know well before the 30th of June.
"There'll come a time within the next few months where we'll both sit down and talk.
"We need to know if we need to plug that gap or not."
Cullen was not sure which way Webcke would go.
"He lifted us to a win against Cronulla and he was great against Parramatta last week.
"But if you look at him, I think the games are taking a toll on him.
"I'm not trying to talk him into retirement, but come mid-season, I think he'll definitely know."
Cullen said Hannant, who some onlookers say is a young Webcke, has impressed everyone since arriving at the club with some excess baggage.
Hannant left the Sydney Roosters for a one-year agreement with Brisbane this season. He is playing for little more than match payments, but on what he's shown, is likely to be around the club for a while.
"We'd been keen to keep Ben, he's been great since coming back and not just on the field," Cullen said.
"When he first came to the club as a teenager he picked up the nickname Nick Nolte, after the Hollywood actor.
"His hair was blond, long an untidy and he carried a bit of weight.
"They still call him Nick but it doesn't suit him as much now because he's a lot tidier and he's lost some of his weight.
"When he got here he was out of shape.
"He's obviously had a good think about where he is at and where he wants to go in life and decided he has to put his head down and done all the right things."
Source: AAP