Broncos left to count cost as Hunt defects to Aussie Rules

(GETTY IMAGES)

The Australian game is reeling from the unprecedented defection of one of its leading players to Aussie Rules.

The Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia full-back Karmichael Hunt has announced that he will play Rules for the new Gold Coast club from 2010. He is the first established star to make the switch since Aussie Rules went national with the formation of the Australian Football League. Signing Hunt is a major publicity coup for the AFL and he will be of great promotional value to Gold Coast in what is traditionally a league hotbed.

The Salford coach, Shaun McRae, has warned he might take legal action over press criticism after Sunday's 62-20 defeat at Warrington. "I've no problem with criticism, but it's a fine line between that and character assassination," he said.