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GOLD Coast boss Michael Searle wants to fight fire with fire in his battle against the AFL and is tossing up an approach to none other than bad boy Barry Hall to counter Karmichael Hunt's spectacular cross-code defection.
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"I've always thought there's only one AFL player who could make the switch to league Barry Hall," Searle said.
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"He's got strength and mongrel.
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"In the wake of what they've done with Karmichael, it's something worth looking into. I'm planning on talking to the NRL about what we might be able to put together."
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Hall is a free agent after quitting the Swans last month following a string of on-field meltdowns.
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He's been strongly linked to rival AFL outfit the Western Bulldogs over a return to boxing in 2010, but Searle insists the 32-year-old's hot temperament is much better suited to rugby league.
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"There have been a few private discussions with some other club CEOs," Searle said. "I believe it's something the NRL should now consider. We can't sit back and not think left-field."
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Searle has a history of going after ambitious recruits, famously hiring a chopper for All Blacks great Jonah Lomu to inspect the holiday strip in 2007.
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He's not alone in his thoughts about what a powerful tool Hall would be to combat the AFL's incursion into league heartland. Two western Sydney CEOs are also open-minded about the plan, with one even going as far as contacting the NRL yesterday about incentives for Hall's recruitment.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/barry-an-nrl-mark/story-e6frexnr-1225756601163
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"I've always thought there's only one AFL player who could make the switch to league Barry Hall," Searle said.
>
"He's got strength and mongrel.
\
\
"In the wake of what they've done with Karmichael, it's something worth looking into. I'm planning on talking to the NRL about what we might be able to put together."
\
\
Hall is a free agent after quitting the Swans last month following a string of on-field meltdowns.
\
\
He's been strongly linked to rival AFL outfit the Western Bulldogs over a return to boxing in 2010, but Searle insists the 32-year-old's hot temperament is much better suited to rugby league.
\
\
"There have been a few private discussions with some other club CEOs," Searle said. "I believe it's something the NRL should now consider. We can't sit back and not think left-field."
\
\
Searle has a history of going after ambitious recruits, famously hiring a chopper for All Blacks great Jonah Lomu to inspect the holiday strip in 2007.
>
He's not alone in his thoughts about what a powerful tool Hall would be to combat the AFL's incursion into league heartland. Two western Sydney CEOs are also open-minded about the plan, with one even going as far as contacting the NRL yesterday about incentives for Hall's recruitment.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/barry-an-nrl-mark/story-e6frexnr-1225756601163