Internationals 'He'll wish he played for us' (msg to Karmichel Hunt)

[commonsense_old]

'He'll wish he played for us'
By Steve Mascord
May 2, 2006

NEW Zealand players last night lined up Karmichael Hunt for choosing Australia over the Kiwis, with second rower Frank Pritchard declaring "just wait for the Test - he'll wish he played for us".

The Kiwis were stunned by the Auckland-born fullback's selection as Anthony Minichiello's replacement yesterday.

Just three weeks ago, Hunt again turned down the chance to play for the country of his birth.

The Kiwis made it clear the Brisbane custodian would feel their wrath at Suncorp Stadium, with winger Jake Webster saying: "He's made his bed - now he's got to lie in it."

Asked how his players felt about Hunt, 19, playing against them, New Zealand coach Brian McClennan said: "Karmichael's got to find that out for himself on Friday night."

Penrith's Pritchard told The Daily Telegraph: "I said to (McClennan): I'm Australian born -- I'm more Australian than him. He came over here when he was 14. If he feels like he's Australian, what can I say? He's forgotten his roots.

"Just wait for the Test - he'll wish he played for us."

The Kiwis learned of Hunt's inclusion when McClennan got a text message while on the mini-bus back from training at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast late yesterday morning.

"Most of the guys just started laughing," McClennan said..


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"It's just the way it is, isn't it? He's going to have enormous amounts of pressure on him.
"We would have been looking to put pressure on Minichiello but if the guys get the chance to put a big tackle on Karmichael, of course they're going to do it."

Kiwi-born former Australia forward Brad Thorn was the subject of heavy treatment when he chose the green and gold over New Zealand, but Pritchard said Thorn had more right to call himself Australian than did Hunt.

"Thorn, he's done a lot, he played for the All Blacks as well," the 22 year old said.

"He always said he wanted to play for (Australia). Fair enough, he went and did it. He played State of Origin for Queensland."

Kiwis star Benji Marshall said he tried to talk Hunt into playing for New Zealand.

"I'm a bit disappointed," Marshall said. "I've always expressed that I wanted him to come and play here. He's only been over here for five or six years."

Asked if Hunt could expect extra attention early in the game, McClennan told a media conference: "Not the early moments - the whole game.

"(But) he's allowed his choice. We've got (Cairns-born Brent Webb) playing for us, and he's proud to play for the Kiwis and we're proud to have him."

Webster added: "I didn't expect him to be called into the team. I thought there'd be a few before him.

"If the chance comes for one of us to get stuck into him a little bit, I'm sure we will."

Halfback Thomas Leuluai said: "I was pretty shocked."

The Daily Telegraph

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now thats adding fuel to fire.
how great is this test gonna be??
-joey johns last rep game
-benji and sbw first game together
-karmichael has a huge red target on him

cant bloody wait!!!!

 

[commonsense_old]

Kiwis to put heat on Hunt
Mick Daly

May 02, 2006

AN angry New Zealand has lit the fuse for Friday's trans-Tasman Test by vowing to punish Australian fullback Karmichael Hunt for turning his back on the country of his birth.

The Kiwis gathered on the Gold Coast yesterday as news of Auckland-born Hunt's elevation to the Australian squad filtered through the camp.

Hunt, who moved to Australia from New Zealand when he was 10, earlier this year considered making himself available for the Kiwis after his chances of representing Queensland in State of Origin appeared slim.

The Kiwis tried to be diplomatic when told of Hunt's selection in place of injured fullback Anthony Minichiello, but several players were privately seething at his perceived lack of loyalty.

It was too much for young Kiwi stars Jake Webster and Frank Pritchard – both Australian-born – who said Hunt would finish the Test wishing he had never made it on to the field.

Melbourne Storm winger Webster claimed Hunt would "pay the consequences" for his swinging allegiances.

"It doesn't look good for him and I think he's going to find that out," he said.

"He's going to get it. You can't do what he has done and expect to get off lightly.

"We will definitely be out to make him pay. He'll get his share of treatment.

"It's pretty ordinary, really. A lot of the boys will be out to touch him up. I know I will be."

Pritchard, the Penrith Panthers second-rower, claimed Hunt had proved he only cared about himself by failing to commit himself to one country or the other.

He said there was no place in the New Zealand squad for players who were unsure where their loyalties rested.

Several Kiwi representatives have made their choices. Fullback Brent Webb was born in Cairns, Webster in Melbourne, while Pritchard and the Cayless brothers, Jason and Nathan, were born in Sydney.

"It's his decision. Come Friday, just bring it on," Pritchard said.

"All the boys, out of respect for the black and white jersey, are going to show him what he has turned his back on."

Hunt said he was expecting a backlash from the Kiwis as he prepares to become one of Australia's youngest debutants.

"I'm expecting it quite a bit, even the dirty stuff," he said yesterday after he was rushed into the Australian camp following Minichiello's withdrawal because of a lower back complaint.

At 19 years and 169 days, Hunt will be the youngest Australian fullback in 95 years and the fifth youngest national team debutant.

Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall said he had accepted Hunt's decision but was far from happy.

He said he had previously tried to convince Hunt to play for NZ in the belief the Kiwis could dominate the international game with him in the team.

"I'm a little bit disappointed to be honest, but that's life," Marshall said.

"I've always expressed that I wanted him to play for New Zealand."

Marshall can also expect to be targeted, with Australian players yesterday admitting they would test the condition of the young star's suspect shoulder.

 

[LeagueNut_old]

The Kiwis learned of Hunt's inclusion when McClennan got a text message while on the mini-bus back from training at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast late yesterday morning.

"Most of the guys just started laughing," McClennan said..

This line makes me smile ...

 

[danco_old]

Hunt will get some strong treatment but this test could be one of the best tests ever, cant wait for Friday night,Hunts made his decision so lets get on with it,

 

[edguy_old]

hes gonna have so much preasure on him .....and we have seen him crack under the strain before ...also every time he takes it up , hes gonna be thinking somones gonna deck him ..... lol

im thinking a sonny bill classic shoulder charge .... lol

 

[warrior_girl81_old]

how exciting! i was hoping the kiwis would target hunt and go hard on him but to actually read quotes with them saying they will is fantastic! i cant wait..

 

[Ronnie_7_old]

Oh man doesn't hearing all that talk from the boys just givr you the warm fuzzies? Can't wait until Friday this is gona be a ripper!!!!

 

[MarkW_old]

I guess we were all hoping that Hunt would pledge alligiance to the Kiwis - but alas, he more interested in Origin and the green and gold.
It's an interesting decision too. Because he would be well aware that his chance of playing in the halves for the Kiwis someday was quite likely - especially given his preference for playing no.7. Jones dosn't have too many games left in his international career - Hohaia seems on the outer somewhat, and Lueluai dosn't quite have that extra bit of flair that Hunt possesses.

Anyway, what's done is done, good luck to him. He's gonna get a hell of a welcome to international footy

And on the upside, all this added publicity is great for hyping the test match... should be a ripper.

 

[Sinbad_old]

Damm what a coup. Bluey could not have written a better scrip. He doesn't need to motivate the guys into playing well. Carmichael has done that.

This will go down in history that this test is the first test that a NZ side has been motivated by a oposition player. All they need in the dressing room is a large picture of Hunt. The damn best motivation for playing in the black jersey.

And it was the Aussies that did this to themselves by picking him. !!

Go the Kiwis

 

[Ronnie_7_old]

I guess we were all hoping that Hunt would pledge alligiance to the Kiwis - but alas, he more interested in Origin and the green and gold.

I wasn't hoping that he would play for us not after he said no the first time a while back. As soon as you say no thats it nemind piss arsing around like what he did saying he was considering it. No is no and you can't go back on that

 

[one-eyed-warrior_old]

I cant wait to see that little shitehead get smashed left right and centre , I cant wait.

 

[da mad maori]

Instead of bagging the guy, we should be congratulating him. Well I will. Good on him. He has said all along who he wanted to play for, and has stuck by that. He is an excellent talent, and let me remind you what Phil Gould said a year ago. KIWI's WILL DOMINATE, REP FOOTY, and KIWI's WILL DOMINATE, THE BULK OF STATE OF ORIGIN. This is a step in that direction.

 

[AliN_old]

nah, smash the prick guys, and smile while you do it!!

and Phil Gould iks just another loud mouthed Aussie imo...

 

[Jesbass_old]

My main concern is that the Kiwis focus on him too much, and take their focus off the rest of the team. Johns and Lockyer would have a field day if that were the case.

 

[Ronnie_7_old]

I don't think that will be a problem I mean they will give him extra attention but not overly so that it costs them the game or a couple of tries.

Hunt is now the hunted

 

[Woop Woop_old]

Muahahahaha I love it guys..I absolutely love it!!

All we need is one or two of the boys to hurt him real good, then get back into gear and finish off this Kangaroo side.

 

[da mad maori]

I still fail to see what the BIG DEAL: is. WE have Webb.
Or is that different ???.

 

[Sinbad_old]

of course it is DMMM get real We are talking about the Kiwis of course, anything else doesnt matter

 

[Kiwi League_old]

As a small nation of only 4 million, we like to think that we stand strong together in order to make our mark in this world. Therefore it hurts when one of our small band defects to a much larger & stronger foe; it's like abandoning your family in their hour of need to join a big gang that's threatening them. We like Webb because he came and joined an unfancied team & therefore his decision seems more genuine than just going and playing with the bigger, wealthier boys.

 

[Ronnie_7_old]

Well said Kiwi league. I'm going to laugh if they don't give him a look in, in rep footy after this. Aussies over in LU don't like him in their team either and they think Stuart did this just so we couldn't have him.