Cooper, Hunt box on in Ballymore exile
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 drugs charges that will be held 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 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 might happen in two Mondays’ time.
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 on January, which shows the session on Friday wasn’t a oneoff.
The gym is owned by Cooper’s boxing trainer, Shannon ‘Shaggy’ King, who 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.’’
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 Thorn.