Hunt’s head in the big game

KARMICHAEL Hunt was knocked senseless by a high shot in his first Test against the Kiwis and he expects the same physical welcome as a Wallaby should he finally face the ultimate footy side on Saturday.

The multipurpose back now seems certain to be plugged into the reserves as a supersub finisher against the All Blacks he daydreamed of playing against even when in the middle of his rugby league career with the Brisbane Broncos.

To clarify, he’s expecting big body shots and keeping his head this time at Suncorp Stadium where his league Test debut for the Kangaroos in 2006 was defined by a rattling early jolt from Kiwi enforcer Frank Pritchard.

Hunt, then a precocious 17year-old fullback with short hair, does well to recall.

“I don’t remember getting knocked out but I remember it well and truly seeing it plenty of times (on TV),” Hunt said.

“It was a decent hit but it wasn’t really a head high ... I slipped and his shoulder went into my head. That’s footy.”

Hunt has always been a nofuss type and his biggest takeaway from league battles against the Kiwis was the sheer physicality that he anticipates their rugby brethren will bring to Suncorp Stadium as well.

When Hunt signed from AFL to play rugby union in 2015 he was really signing up for the goal of playing rugby ... against the All Blacks.

“That was a lot of it because you want to play against the best teams and the All Blacks are arguably the best in all of team sports,” Hunt said.

“I’ve always been inspired by them as the pinnacle, even when playing league.”

The versatility to the ’ backline resources means rather than bump bullocking fellow centre Samu Kerevi from the reserves it will more likely be winger Henry Speight.

All around the Wallabies camp values Hunt’s experience and the variety of his play to make an impact now his ankle dramas are behind him.

Lock Rob Simmons yesterday ran as the starting lock in place of Izack Rodda, heading to shoulder surgery today, but if there is to be one ruse this week it will be keeping Reds lock Lukhan Tui under cover as the better bet for his explosive 10 charges per game.

Hunt has been away from the Wallabies set-up since June but his positive take on improvements was an excellent gauge of progress.

“Having come back in, the boys are really confident with what they’ve built over the past six weeks or so and they are gelling a lot better with a real sense of understanding of roles,” Hunt said.

“Where in June we had 10minute spurts, now we are stretching it out to 20, a half and 60 minutes.”

Another fast start to put scoreboard pressure on an All Blacks team almost certain to spell playmaker Beauden Barrett (head knock after-effects).