Advice is on hand for Israel Folau from fellow AFL convert Karmichael Hunt.
But pioneering code hopper Hunt reckons his former Brisbane Broncos teammate won’t need it.
Cynics may disagree after watching Folau’s modest AFL debut for Greater Western Sydney last weekend.
However, Hunt reckons Folau would have already learnt plenty from his good mate’s 2011 baptism of fire.
“I think he knows what to expect,” Hunt said of Folau.
“I am pretty sure he kept a close eye on my situation last year so I don’t think he needs any extra advice on what to expect.
“I am there for him but he has such a great team of coaches down there.
“And he will get better as the weeks go by.”
Not that Hunt expected to escape the limelight in his second season, starting with the Suns’ clash with Adelaide at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
“I think there was more pressure last year than anything, being my first year and things were magnified – every little thing good or bad was magnified,” Hunt said on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
“The microscope is always going to be on me. I’ve never worried about that.
“I didn’t worry about it last year and I’m not going to worry about it this year.
“I don’t feel any pressure.”
After playing 16 games in 2011, Hunt said instead of being an unlikely AFL convert he finally felt like a regular AFL player.
“I think having that whole year in the system has made me feel more comfortable with my role and my place and my team,” he said.
“This year I feel like I’m an AFL player going out to do the best I can for my team.
“I’m just going to go out there and look to improve each week and put my best foot forward for my team and that’s all that matters.”
After re-signing for another two years on reportedly $1 million a season, Hunt was determined to provide some bang for the buck in his second season.
He lost 5kg in the off-season and hit the video library for some valuable research.
Hunt – who is switching from defence to the midfield in 2012 – has a handy role model at the Suns in captain Gary Ablett.
But there was another who looked good in Cats colours that dominated his video viewing – Geelong’s All-Australian James Kelly.
“We watched a clip this morning on James Kelly in the grand final last year and his offensive spread and awareness to push to get to a position where he could get used was something I’ll hopefully pick up,” Hunt said.
“I feel the more vision I watch and the more I watch other good players and how they run out games, the better I’m going to get.”
