Hunt’s new cocaine arrest gives Castle her first headache
An ‘‘inconsolable’’ Karmichael Hunt will present fellow Kiwi Raelene Castle with an early challenge in her new role as Rugby Australia’s boss.
Another Kiwi in Queensland Reds rugby coach, former All Blacks lock Brad Thorn, will also have to deal with the repercussions arising from Hunt’s arrest after an alleged cocaine bust early yesterday morning.
Hunt, born in Auckland, but a noted Australian rugby league and AFL player and now a Wallaby, was arrested and charged with two counts of drug possession after being searched by police at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley about 12.40am (3.40am NZT) yesterday.
Hunt’s solicitor Adam Magill told Fairfax Media he had spoken to his client.
‘‘He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,’’ Magill said.
‘‘He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.’’
Hunt and another man were walking along McLachlan Street in Fortitude Valley when they were approached by officers during what a police spokesman described as ‘‘a random street stop’’.
Magill said police will allege officers found a bag of white powder on the ground between the two men, which cocaine.
The 32-year-old man who was with Hunt was later charged with possessing an item used in a drug offence.
Hunt has been issued with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29, just two weeks after Castle, former Netball New Zealand and Canterbury Bulldogs chief executive, starts her job as Rugby Australia CEO.
While Hunt can be accorded presumption of innocence until his court appearance, his arrest will cause exasperation among rugby bosses, particularly given his past record with drugs.
In March, 2015, it will be he alleged was was fined A$2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing cocaine.
Hunt was identified by police at the time as a customer of former professional rugby league player John Touma during an investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring operating in the state’s southeast.
That investigation also led to several Gold Coast Titans’ players being charged for drug offences.
At the time, Hunt said he had made a ‘‘terrible mistake’’ and apologised for the distress he had caused to his family and friends.
The Australian Rugby Union fined him A$30,000 and suspended him for six weeks following the 2015 incident. Hunt has shaken off the controversy to establish himself at the Queensland Reds, making his Wallabies debut this year and signing a two-year contract extension until 2019 with the ARU in November.
‘‘Rugby Australia has today been made aware of an incident involving Wallabies and Queensland Reds back Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane overnight,’’ the ARU said in a statement on Saturday.
‘‘Rugby Australia takes all matters relating to the off-field behaviour of its players seriously and has commenced an investigation into the incident in conjunction with the Queensland Rugby Union.’’
Hunt has carved out an amazing career as a code-hopping footballer. He shifted to Australia with his parents as an 11-year-old and made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos in 2004, making a huge impression and winning the Dally M Rookie-of-the-Year award.
Two years later he was in the Brisbane side which won the NRL grand final and then chose to play for Australia instead of the Kiwis in 2006.
He signed a three-year contract with AFL team Gold Coast in 2009. He had a four-year stint in the AFL, but joined the Queensland Reds in 2015, making his rugby union international debut this year. He has played in three tests.
– Stuff, SMH and AAP