Master stroke €“ AFL has the jump on NRL with Hunt signing
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday August 1, 2009
SIGNING Karmichael Hunt to the new AFL Gold Coast franchise is, without doubt, a superb piece of marketing. This is what will worry, and is worrying, the NRL. Whether Hunt is successful is not the issue. It is the effect his switching codes will have on influencing young players to realise there is another code they can go to. The AFL knows where it is going with developing the game at junior level. The NRL continues to muddle along under its ARL/News Ltd directors. It is high time for a new direction in management for rugby league, one that places importance on all levels of the game.Tony Everett, West RydeI note that Wally Lewis has savaged Karmichael Hunt for planning to move to the Australian football ranks, accusing him of disloyalty, greed and "just doing it for the money". I have no barrow to push for Hunt but would like to point out that this is the same Wally Lewis who was a member of the famed Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team which toured the British Isles in 1977. Lewis was not chosen for any of the four Test matches on that tour. On his return to Australia, he showed his disloyalty to rugby union and his greed [Lewis's description of Hunt] by deserting the then amateur rugby union ranks and turning to professional rugby league, presumably "for the money". A case of pot and kettle?John Brewer, KambahThe hypocrisy of David Gallop and the NRL ! Sonny Bill Williams walks out on the Bulldogs unannounced mid-season, breaking his contract, to play rugby union, and all hell breaks loose. Timana Tahu walks out on the Waratahs and Wallabies unannounced mid-season, breaking his contract, and is welcomed back to the NRL with open arms! No mention of being a dog, a traitor or being disloyal to his rugby teammates. Double standards you might say.Stuart Donaldson, RandwickWhat a KnightWith all the bad publicity the NRL and some of the players have been getting, I would like to express my thanks to Kurt Gidley, who made my 11-year-old son's night, while watching the Knights lose to Manly at Bluetongue Stadium last Friday. Dressed head to toe in Knights gear, my son and his friend approached Kurt, who was watching the game, and asked for his signature. Unfortunately while Kurt signed and shook hands, Manly managed to score two quick tries in a row. Even though the Knights lost, my son came away saying that, "He can't believe he got to shake Kurt Gidley's hand." Many thanks to Kurt for making it the "best night."Christine Bishop, UminaEntirely unsuitableSwimming isn't the only sport affected by the wetsuit debacle. It's cousin, surf lifesaving, ridiculously allows competitors to wear wetsuits. At the recent Australian titles in Perth, even some Masters competitors were wearing the expensive buoyancy devices. Seeing as the purpose of surf lifesaving competition is to practise for rescues, I find it hard to believe a lifesaver would waste what could be up to 20 minutes donning a high-tech wetsuit so he or she could rescue someone from drowning. And at the end of the day, the wearing of wetsuits goes against the spirit of competition and that "man-against-the-elements" ethos of surf lifesaving. Interesting to note the winner of the over-50 surf race at the national titles wore one of these suits, despite pre-race consternation shown by some competitors. Afterwards several competitors made their feelings known. The next day that same competitor did not wear a wetsuit, and his performances were not of the same standard. Proof enough (again) that these suits should be banned immediately. Huey, the god of surf, would not be impressed.Greg Smith, BalcattaFor the recordWhat's the world record for number of world records set?Craig Moore, RandwickDiving for coverAt long last, those soccer wimps who fall over clutching their legs, writhing in agony, will get their comeuppance (€œA-League ban €“ cheats' prospects take a dive€, Herald, July 30). However, the FFA has gone soft and will issue only a two-match ban, whereas it should be two months. Generally, there are more Lazaruses at soccer pitches than all other sporting events combined.Alastair Browne, Cromer HeightsTesting timesApparently, the criteria for the Australian cricket team is now if you perform poorly in two Tests you are out. Perhaps Mr Hilditch should be wary of the people who selected him.Scott McCoy, Darling PointThey dropped Phil Hughes for a bloke whose been given eight years to come good without delivering? What a cowardly, disgraceful decision €“ they don't deserve to beat the Poms!Mark Pearce, Richmond
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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