Folau blazes trail for converts

NOT content with having one of the world’s most versatile sportsmen in his ranks to face England, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has now given himself the option of adding a second.

When Israel Folau made his Australia debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2013, a matter of months after converting from Australian football, he became the first player to compete at the highest level in three different ovalball codes.

Karmichael Hunt, who was born in Auckland but moved with his family to Australia as an 11-yearold, could be poised to emulate Folau’s remarkable feat of adaptability during the series against England, having been named in Cheika’s extended squad after switching to rugby union last year.

Like Folau, Hunt made his name in rugby league and played for Australia before making a highprofile move to AFL.

Hunt’s claims to versatility are, arguably, even greater than those of Folau, who spent only one full season in the AFL, with the Greater Western Sydney Giants, before embarking on a union career that has been such a conspicuous success. Hunt endured early difficulties after leaving league in 2010, but he stayed in AFL for four years and established himself at the Gold Coast Suns.

At 29, it is probably asking too much to expect Hunt to match Folau’s achievements in union, but Cheika clearly believes another multi-faceted footballer adds greatly to the firepower in his squad. But for a groin injury that caused him to miss training, there is every chance he would have faced England last night.

Irrespective of Hunt’s gifts as a utility back, Cheika has been forced to justify the selection in public because of the player’s controversial recent past.

Shortly before he was due to make his much-anticipated debut for the Queensland Reds last year, Hunt pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing cocaine.

In return for a lighter sentence, and to safeguard his deal with the Queensland Reds, Hunt made a long and lurid confession about the drug and alcohol binges he would embark on with his Suns teammates, telling of how he hid cocaine in his golf bag.

‘‘Forgiveness is a very Christian value,’’ Cheika said last week as he defended Hunt’s selection.

‘‘Isn’t the logic to try and help guys to get over errors they make? That’s what we’re doing.’’

Hunt struggled in his first season in rugby union, but has been outstanding at fullback for the Reds in 2016.