The David Klemmer transfer saga is dragging on, but the Knights have moved quickly to snap up versatile back Hymel Hunt for next season.
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The powerful outside back signed a one-year deal earlier this week.
Hunt, who turns 25 today, has been on the NRL merry-go-round since he made his debut as a 19-year-old. In six seasons he has totalled 50 first grade games for Gold Coast, Melbourne and South Sydney – and now the Knights.
It is hardly a sit-up-and-take-notice record, but the most pleasing things is that last season was clearly his finest to date – and Knights coach Nathan Brown will be looking for more of the same.
Hunt made 21 appearances for the Rabbitohs last season, scoring seven tries.
“Hymel’s been in two good systems, in Melbourne and Souths,” Knights coach Nathan Brown said of the 99-kilogram, 1.91-metre New Zealander, who is a cousin of code-hopper Karmichael Hunt.
“He brings great versatility. He’s at home at wing or centre and can even play back row.
“He’s a nice addition to our squad.”
His inclusion means that the Knights have far more options out wide as they head into the new season than they did at this time last year.
Before Hunt’s capture, they had already signed former Cronulla outside backs Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee.
Throw in ex-Warriors utility Mason Lino and prop James Gavet, Queensland Origin front-rower Tim Glasby from Melbourne, and Canterbury’s NSW Cup hooker Zac Woolford and it has been a productive off-season. And perhaps some news as good as any was that boom second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon had signed a two-year extrension that wilol keep him at hte club until he end of 2021.
It was a show of faith in his team and the direction in which they are heading.
Hunt is expected to feature prominently next season, especially if Tautau Moga is sidelined early in the season while he recovers from a knee reconstruction.
Meanwhile the Knights are seeking clarification this week if their main off-season target, Canterbury’s NSW and Kangaroos enforcer David Klemmer, will also be joining them.
Klemmer is reportedly keen to accept a lucrative four-year deal from Newcastle, but first the Bulldogs need to formally grant him a release.
The Knights have also expressed interest in St George Illawarra utility Kurt Mann and Parramatta flyer Michael Jennings although, like Klemmer, they are still contracted to their current clubs.