HUNT ADMITS ‘DROPPING BALL’ A REAL ISSUE
KARMICHAEL Hunt can offer you an apology for his late-night arrest and the damage he caused rugby’s image yet he can’t or won’t shout, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The code will always be in the dark about the cocaine found in the car park close to where police detained the multi-code footballer in Brisbane last December.
The courts booted out possession charges in February through lack of evidence which is why Hunt is playing for the Wallabies again is not the dead issue many might think.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has been in contact for months to monitor his wellbeing and Hunt wants to play for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship in September.
The utility back’s comeback for Souths against Bondi Uni on Saturday on the Gold Coast proved he has been doing plenty of private fitness work and he had a sharp hand in two tries.
Hunt, 31, is keen for the next chapter to start which is exactly what he would want.
Not so fast. The rest of us in rugby are at least owed a half-explanation about dragging the game into the gutter. Again.
Question: “Karmichael, one of the issues people have is you not saying: “I didn’t do it?”
Hunt: “Yeah, yeah. The legal side of it ... the charges were dropped, simple as that.”
Question: No, it’s not that simple. Do you understand many people want you kicked out of rugby?
Hunt: “Without a doubt. I said from the first time I was in trouble (with a 2015 ban for cocaine possession) that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I’m not going to be weighed down by it.
“For me, I want to get out there and do what I can do which is improve as a man, just help my teams improve and play footy.”
Hunt was open about his flaws, seeing a psychologist for his stress-triggered issues and “this constant learning curve through life for me”.
“If there is one thing I know I’m not immune to the pitfalls of what can pop up in life, especially with recurring stress and managing that,” Hunt said.
“I’ve been burnt twice now for my own behaviour. I’m just focused on moving forward.”