The last time Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau met on the football field as rivals, Folau’s team won.
Fast forward almost four years and it was the same, albeit in a different code and with opinions being swapped – not on how well these former NRL superstars played … but how badly.
For those interested in the sideshow to Greater Western Sydney’s clash with Gold Coast on Saturday, it was understandably Hunt who took individual honours with the losers.
He finished with 16 touches – his average after seven games into 2012, but double the eight he averaged in his debut season last year.
His former Brisbane Broncos teammate ended up with 11 disposals, two missed shots on goal, but was a valuable (although inefficient) target when he was moved forward in the second half.
The two failed to cross paths during the match, but were predictably brought together in comparisons post-match.
Suns coach Guy McKenna paid tribute to his newly-minted midfielder, rating him as one of only two players to have performed well in their 27-point loss to the AFL’s newest franchise.
“He set the tone for our midfield given limited opportunity and Sammy (Iles) … is starting to get reward for effort,” McKenna said after the match.
“So you’ve got those two – after that, you can raffle the rest.”
Giants coach Kevin Sheedy acknowledged the difference in performance between the former rugby league players, but insisted only age separates them.
Folau is 23 to Hunt’s 25 – although he turns 26 in November.
“Quite honestly, the difference is about four years of age – and that’s an 80-game, 90-game sporting career,” he said.
“So I think eventually we’ll be happy as he keeps improving.”
Folau and Hunt last went head-to-head in an NRL semi-final in late 2008, which Folau’s Melbourne Storm won 16-14.