Slick Hunt poses questions with Beale return
KARMICHAEL Hunt has so impressed in his first full-on month as a Wallaby that it will force a rethink on exactly how to utilise returning weapon Kurtley Beale.
The straightforward answer is to slot Beale’s savvy playmaking into inside centre and use Hunt as a super-sub to cover the two centre roles and fullback against the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test on August 19.
That instantly wastes the headlong fury to Hunt’s defence and his tough footballer’s mindset, both invaluable assets that don’t always exist across the park against the Kiwis.
Shifting Beale to a wing would be a waste and moving Hunt to outside centre would be a radical punt that would remove the line-shredding impact of Samu Kerevi.
Hunt is delighted with his three-Test taste and will be in camp next time when Beale (hamstring) is fit after his strong stint with English club Wasps.
Hunt is also humble enough to rate himself in the same boat, as a fledgling inside centre learning the finer points, as the Wallabies at large.
“As you saw we are a pretty unfinished product at the minute,” Hunt said of the 40-27 victory over Italy in Brisbane on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of talent, the determination is there, the will is there and so is the coaching.”
Tackling the All Blacks in Sydney will be a huge step up that Hunt wants to be a part of.
“When it comes to getting aroused for a game of footy, it’s really easy to get up for a game against the best,” Hunt said.
“There is plenty to work on which I see as a positive.:
Cheika is upbeat that he’s found a stout, Test-ready asset after just four hours of footy as Hunt’s DNA as a hardened State of Origin rugby league performer suggested.
“He’s stepped up and taken it all on with no fear of failure at all which is a great message to others,” Cheika said.
Hunt is uncertain if he will be at No.12 for the Reds in their final two games with Duncan Paia’aua entrenched there.