Aussie rugby bad boys chase recall
QUADE Cooper and Karmichael Hunt might be banned from Ballymore for the time being, but two of Australian rugby’s highest earners have been secretly training together for weeks at a boxing gym four kilometres away in Brisbane’s inner city.
Cooper has taken Hunt under his wing as his troubled Wallabies and Reds team-mate awaits his fate on a string of drug charges, that will be heard before a Brisbane court on February 19.
Despite reports Hunt might still have to answer to a charge of possessing cocaine, his lawyer is adamant the charge will be dropped in court.
Since being told by new Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn he need not come to training, Cooper has been flaunting his workouts on social media, and from all reports is training the house down as he tries to fight his way back into Super Rugby contention.
One could not help but miss a familiar face in an Instagram story posted by Cooper on Friday.
During a gruelling session, Hunt’s face popped up, clearly showing the six-test Wallaby slugging it out with his great mate Cooper at Corporate Box Gym in Lutwyche.
Hours later, Cooper deleted the video, perhaps wary of being seen with Hunt, given the number of headlines the pair have been involved in over the past two months.
While the outcome of Hunt’s court appearance is still to be determined, it was Cooper who reached out to his close mate to help him keep his mind off what mind happen.
It is understood Cooper invited Hunt for a session on Friday and from reports the pair trained with great intent.
The fact he wants to get Hunt in and help him take his mind off things is admirable.
Another gym user posted a photo with Hunt in January, which shows the session on Friday wasn’t a one-off. The gym is owned by Cooper’s boxing trainer, Shannon King.
Speaking to Fairfax Media, King confirmed Hunt had been to his gym for sessions with Cooper, and that former Wallabies star James O’Connor had also popped in for a workout.
King praised Cooper for his work ethic after being dumped by the Reds, describing him as a ‘‘good egg’’.
‘‘He just likes bringing people in and helping them and not particularly because Karmichael is in trouble but in general, he likes seeing people achieve,’’ King said. ‘‘He’s always pushing them.
‘‘He takes everything serious. He’s training hard because he wants to play for Souths [in club football]. Everything he does he takes seriously and plans hard for it.
‘‘He’s definitely training every day, bar Sunday. That’s the bare minimum and then he’s got Souths training. He’s doing plenty of extras.
‘‘All he does is help everyone around the gym. He’s really passionate about showing everyone technique.’’
There is an irony in the fact Cooper and Hunt were going through their work a 10-minute drive away from where Reds team-mates slugged it out on the opening day of the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens.
If Hunt is cleared by police, he could resume training and playing duties with the Reds, but no doubt he would have to have a serious chat with not only Thorn, but Cheika and Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle.
Cooper faces a more arduous task to get back in a Reds jersey. Thorn has hinted it would take a string of injuries to playmakers for Cooper to get another chance at Super Rugby level.
It is a bold call from Thorn and many in the rugby community are unsure whether such a call will pay off for the Queensland side.
For the time being, Hunt and Cooper will continue to wait and train together. The Sun-Herald