Israel Folau has become such a star in rugby that ARU should take a risk on Karmichael Hunt

ISRAEL Folau is now one of the most dangerous rugby players in the world. So if the blueprint’s there, why shouldn’t the ARU target Karmichael Hunt?

Gold Coast Suns training, Karmichael Hunt. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

TWELVE months after playing Test rugby for the first time, Israel Folau is now undoubtedly one of the most dangerous players in the world and Australia’s most important attacking ace.

It leads to questions over whether Karmichael Hunt – who like Folau has played three footy codes professionally and is now linked with a move to Australian rugby – is needed by the Wallabies.

Folau is paid handsomely for his on-field exploits and undeniable marketing reach, so would it be wise for the ARU to dip into its shrinking coin purse for another triple-code star?

Absolutely.

What the rapid success of Folau shows is that athletes who possess such rare and gifted qualities are worth the risk.

Hunt, who has already played six months of professional rugby in France between stints in the NRL and AFL, could make the transition and make a difference.News_Rich_Media: Re-live all seven Wallabies tries as Ewen McKenzie's men ran riot against France in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Hopefully Hunt’s management is not merely using the ARU as a bargaining chip to bump up his asking price at NRL clubs, now that he seems destined to leave AFL club Gold Coast Suns at the end of the season.

If it is purely about the dollars, Hunt is better off talking exclusively to French clubs who have millions of them to splash and offer a tax rate of 10 per cent.

An attempt by the ARU to snare Hunt can be worthwhile investment if they secure him on a deal of two years or more.

There is an elephant in the rooms of its St Leonards headquarters that few want to think too deeply about; there will be a mass exodus of Australian players after next year’s World Cup.

Folau will be tempted, Quade Cooper will be tempted, Will Genia has already indicated he’ll take a hard look at overseas dollars, and you’d expect Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stephen Moore, Kurtley Beale, Scott Fardy, Nick Cummins, Wycliff Palu and several others to be inundated by big money offers.News_Image_File: Israel Folau has set the blueprint for Hunt should he want to switch to rugby.

Already facing a cash crisis, the ARU simply will not be able to match many of the offers flowing from France, England and Japan, and those who have played in their final World Cup won’t feel the emotional attachment to the national jersey as they do now.

What the ARU could acquire in Hunt is a potentially great rugby player and powerful marketing tool who can keep the local game in the headlines post exodus.

In his exceptional NRL career, Hunt showed traits that mark him as an ideal midfield rugby candidate; fearless hard running, deft passing skills, acceleration through tight spaces, and strong defence.

If the Queensland Reds - who are chasing Hunt - can land his signature, playing him at inside centre, outside Cooper, would fast-track his learning and help him to develop as both a runner and playmaker.News_Rich_Media: Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley believes there is still plenty of room for improvement but insists Saturday night's win over France has laid a great foundation for the remaining Tests.

Judging by Sunday’s performance against the Sydney Swans, Hunt has lost none of his athleticism and speed, but there is little doubt his skill-set suits the more confrontational, rectangular settings of league or union.

Speculation that Hunt could be capable of cracking Ewen McKenzie’s Wallabies squad for the 2015 World Cup in England is premature, but Folau has set a precedent.

The Wallabies fullback was imperious against France last Saturday, as he has been all year for the Waratahs.

Folau followed Hunt as the only other man to play professionally in league, Australian Rules and rugby.

If Hunt now wants to follow Folau into the Wallabies, the ARU should pave the path for him.

The undeniable importance of Folau’s tenure is that people who previously had no interest in rugby have started to watch the game.

That is the whole point for any sport.