Hunt scandal widens
PROFESSIONAL footballers pride themselves on being in the right place at the right time. This was the day their luck may have finally run out.
Queensland Reds star Karmichael Hunt and Gold Coast Titans pair Jamie Dowling and Beau Falloon may count themselves as sizeable fish in their respective trades but have now been swept up in a much bigger dragnet, which has left them facing serious drug charges.
The trio will face allegations of supplying a dangerous drug when they are scheduled to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast on March 5. All have been stood down by their clubs.
But they were hardly the prime targets of the ongoing Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission operation that would lead to their arrest and could yet see more players, both current and retired, face court.
The CCC has yet to release details of their widespread investigation given the sensitivities of those facing charges and the fact that operations continue.
What is known is that it has been primarily targeting a large cocaine trafficking ring distributing the dangerous drug on the Gold Coast and right throughout Queensland’s south-East.
But ears were pricked when it would be alleged that Hunt, Falloon and Dowling were among those contacting members of the syndicate to purchase the illicit substance. The CCC has said little outside of its written statement on Friday morning but it is believed suggestions the body has been surveiling footballers is wide of the mark.
Instead, the footballers were unexpected characters in a much larger play targetting a major syndicate in an area of Australia that has battled ongoing issues with organised crime gangs.
A CCC spokesman also told Fairfax Media it was unable to shed any light on suggestions that up to six further Gold Coast Titans may find themselves with notices to appear before a magistrate.
The temptations of athletes on the Gold Coast have been well known and the region has battled to keep most of its professional sporting franchises afloat, with the Titans no different.
A number of former footballers on the Coast said yesterday that recreational drugs weren’t difficult to come by and most had been offered drugs, or heard of teammates being offered drugs, during their careers.
But the potential ramifications and the implication of a highprofile player like Hunt has shocked even those who felt they had seen every sordid side the Glitter Strip has to offer.
Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has backed the Australian Rugby Union’s tough stance on Hunt, saying elite sport is no place for drugs.
Cheika stayed out of the ARU’s crisis talks on Friday when the scandal broke but he’s backed ARU chief Bill Pulver’s decision to stand down Hunt until further notice, pending the outcome of his court appearance next month.
‘‘We’re talking about stuff that’s not even in the zone of the game. We’re professional sportsmen trying to play at the peak of our ability, it’s not even in the zone, it’s nowhere near anything,’’ he said.
‘‘Everyone these days has got their opinion on everything but for me around the sporting scene it’s all about high performance, preparation, making sure the little two per centers count.’’
The news came as a grave shock to the ARU and Reds, who named Hunt at fullback for the game against the Force last night.
At Cheika’s invitation, Hunt had attended a meeting with test players from the Reds and Brumbies after the teams played each other in Canberra last weekend. The Wallabies coach told Fairfax Media last week he wanted to introduce Hunt to the test environment should his form in Super Rugby this year earn him a call-up. ‘‘There is no doubt – I have no doubt – that lad will be successful in rugby,’’ Cheika said on Wednesday, a day before Hunt met with detectives and was handed his notice to appear.