Hunt’s testing time to pay off
KARMICHAEL Hunt’s strong Test initiation will trigger a new $1 million contract through to the 2019 World Cup now the Wallabies are convinced of his value.
Negotiations on any fresh two-year deal with the Queensland Reds were on pause until he could be judged in the Test arena and it became clearer how it would be funded.
The Queensland Rugby Union paid the bulk of the $1.5 million-plus, three-year deal to hook the code-collector for the 2015 season because he was a Reds’ pet project.
Now he’s proved himself a player of national interest, the Australian Rugby Union should kick in a far bigger slice.
In rugby’s cash-strapped times, Hunt still can’t expect any overall increase and may have to consider a trim.
Any salary cap money freed up for the Reds inches them closer to being able to move on eager Wallabies halfback Will Genia.
Hunt’s timing has been perfect for his form spike at fullback for the Reds and his adaptability to perform at inside centre for the Wallabies.
Reasonable question marks existed on whether he was too injury prone, would be too body-weary at 32 in 2019, and might not be worthy of a Test starting spot.
All have been kicked into touch by Wallabies boss Michael Cheika, who feels he’s blooded a hardened professional who could start in three different positions.
“He’s a seasoned campaigner, a smart player with good chat on the field and he showed it,” Cheika said of Hunt’s three-Test lift-off this month.
Just as importantly, teammates like Israel Folau, who has played 55 Tests, feel like they are playing with a peer, not a pup.
“I’m really enjoying playing with K, we all are,” Folau said.
“He’s already a senior player within the team with the way he leads around the field and being pretty vocal.”
AUSTRALIA’S Olympic women’s sevens gold medallists have set their sights on next year’s Commonwealth Games after finishing the world series second to New Zealand yesterday.