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Japanese rugby club Suntory's $1.2m offer to Karmichael Hunt
Peter Badel
May 24, 2009 12:00am
.FORMER Wallaby coach Eddie Jones' desire to secure a world-class five-eighth for Suntory is clouding the Japanese rugby club's bid for Karmichael Hunt.
The formal interest from Suntory came as St George Illawarra board member Sean O'Connor scuppered rumours he was secretly organising a property deal to lure Hunt to the joint-venture club.
The Sunday Mail understands the Japanese giant is set to table a $1.2 million offer for Hunt in a move that would almost certainly see the Broncos star quit the NRL.
A consultant to Suntory, Jones is an unabashed fan of Hunt and believes the Maroons custodian could be a hit offshore in the No.10 jumper.
But Jones is also eyeing off fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who plays for English club Sale and shapes as a more reliable investment given Hunt's lack of playmaking experience in rugby.
St George Illawarra has been mooted as a potential home for the fullback, with coach Wayne Bennett - Hunt's mentor for five years at Brisbane - the ace in negotiations. However, it is understood the Dragons, via recruitment chief Craig Young, will not make a formal play for Hunt. The club would only be able to meet his $500,000-a-season price tag if it offloaded off-contract duo Justin Poore and Brett Morris. But Suntory's proposed two-year, $600,000-a-season offer gives Hunt the chance to temporarily escape what he sees as the fishbowl existence of the NRL.
The 22-year-old Hunt revealed he is close to deciding on his future, but had yet to settle on a destination.
"I'm not too far off sorting out my contract," ghe said.
"It should only be around the corner.
"I'm not too sure what I'm going to do. I don't want to put a date on it because then I'll look stupid if it doesn't come up."
Asked if he would stay in the NRL, Hunt said: "I don't know. I'm still sorting stuff out. I just want to have a good year."
Speculation last week claimed O'Connor, a former Illawarra forward who now works in real estate, had brokered a beachside property in the NSW south-coast town of Corrimal, near the Dragons' Wollongong base, for Hunt and his family.
But O'Connor denied having any contact with Hunt.
"There is no truth in that," O'Connor said. "It's pure speculation. I've never heard from Karmichael Hunt or any of his people.
"I do work in real estate but I have never had any contact with Karmichael or anyone connected with him."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003411,00.html
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