Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says it will be “hard” – but not impossible – for Karmichael Hunt to force his way back into Rugby World Cup calculations.
Cheika said on Friday he had far more immediate Wallabies-related concerns than contrite code-hopper Hunt, who has been suspended after admitting cocaine possession.
Cheika confirmed Hunt will not be invited to a meeting of prospective World Cup players following Saturday night’s clash between the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs due to his suspension.
Hunt attended a similar meeting in Canberra after the opening Super Rugby round.
But Cheika did indicate the 28-year-old will still be considered for selection should his form warrant it on his return.
It’s consistent with the approach he took with Kurtley Beale following his text scandal last year.
“(Hunt’s) disadvantage is going to be that he’s not playing and that’s going to be hard,” Cheika said.
“Once he gets back out on the paddock and he starts having a crack … if he’s playing well, we’ll take a look at it then.”
Hunt’s suspension until April 3 means he has a likely maximum of 10 more Super Rugby games in his new code with the struggling Reds to earn a Wallaby call up ahead of the World Cup.
So far the former rugby league international has played just one game – the season-opening thumping by the Brumbies – without making any great impression.
Cheika said he was pleased to see a remorseful Hunt take full responsibility for his actions.
“Accountability’s an important thing for people to have and he’s taken accountability,” he said.
“Everyone will have their own opinion over what should have happened but … he put his hand up.”
Hunt said earlier on Friday that he felt his World Cup chances had taken a significant hit on the back of his stunning fall from grace.
“Possibly. I’ve obviously taken a lot of things into account over the last couple of weeks and that’s one of them,” he said.
“But it hasn’t been a focus in the last week or two – the focus has been dealing with court yesterday.”
AndyS
Guest
If they pick him, and they probably will having already paid for him, I hope he remembers the first rule of team play - whatever it is, you have to bring enough for everyone...
Simoc
Guest
I think that Hunt will not ever be test standard at rugby union. He is nowhere near the class of player as Folau is, Matty Rogers was. I think if he plays well enough to hold a spot with the Reds , that is a bonus. Hunt has been very good, but never great (apart from that winning goal after the siren for the Gold Coast).
John
Guest
If it were up to the majority of gibberers on forums Folau never would have debuted for the Wallabies until he had "signed a long term contract and shown commitment to Australian Rugby." Thank God that didn't eventuate - the proof is in the pudding and he's the only world class player we have. Karmichael Hunt will be at the World Cup and will earn his place - he's got more talent in his little left toe than the majority of backs we have, and he can play every position. The best players should get picked to represent Australia. Now that he's lucky enough to have that chance he will be.
grapeseed
Guest
1. Cheika refuses to rule out possibility of Taylor Swift / Andrea Bocelli viral ring tone hit
RT
Guest
Top 10 Cheika rule outs?
grapeseed
Guest
"Michael Cheika refuses to rule out apocalyptic asteroid strike ending Super Rugby title defence" Waratahs and Wallaby coach Michael Cheika seemed to suggest that the Super Rugby season could be cut short at any time when he refused to rule out the possibility that life as we know it could suddenly come to an abrupt end following a devastating asteroid strike. While acknowledging that it was unlikely, Cheika conceded that there were some vagaries in trajectory calculations using NASA's new Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System that meant he couldn't rule it out altogether. "We'll just focus on the things we can control, speed around the ruck, not pushing our passes," Cheika said "Stuff like referee's decisions and asteroid-related Armageddon are just part of rugby."
soapit
Guest
yeah but thats where having a stable experienced team around you to learn from comes into it its touch and go, full season and id have backed but reckon he'll just come up short.
Squirrel
Guest
Every league gets a gold jersey , even tahu
Max Power
Guest
Sorry I wasn't clear and you probably don't have the faintest idea because that is not at all what I was suggesting. Hunt's current predicament and the Beale issue last year are completely unrelated. I'm pointing out that Beale's form off the bench during the rugby championship didn't necessarily warrant picking him immediately after he was cleared, like the article suggests it did. Yes Beale had played plenty of test rugby so it wasn't new to him but kicking 8/9 is absolutely no indication form. I would back myself to all the kicks that Beale did, doesn't mean I should be picked for the Wallabies. Hunt definitely has to earn selection for the Wallabies, and at this stage he is nowhere close to that, and what happened with Beale last year should have absolutely no bearing on that.
Brumby Bob
Guest
Has K Hunt actually played any other games of rugby yet besides the one a few weeks ago?
Jocelyn
Guest
ARU ? Are you kidding me? ARU & QRU paid him $millions . People had a very short memory ( Wendell Sailor suspended for 2 yrs) KHunt got caught for cocaine fine for $30k, and. 6 wks suspension very soft. We are talking cocaine here. Therefore he should suspended for 2 yrs and fine $60k , when are they going to learn. When someone ( player) got overdose. If you sale marijuana in the public you get caught you go to jail. That's the rule. Michael Cheika had plenty of players to pick and to replace KHunt. MC shouldn't be distracted for WR preparation bec of KH cocaine drama. Dropped him a simple is that. Move on. As for KB"s saga ( texting) it was ARU who mishandle the saga, for saying this ARU employed a female who knows what's her qualification, and rule at RU. Thus if this female employee couldn't take the heat - leave. KB got fine more than $40k for what?..sending texting? That's what we do.
RT
Guest
So this story is that after paying his fine and serving his time if he is playing well he'll be chosen for the Wallabies? In other news the sky is blue and water is wet.
Mike
Guest
Okay, let's run with that - * Beale had played 47 tests for Australia; Karmichael Hunt has played no rugby tests at all, and his last league test was 7 years ago. * In the few months before he was picked for EOYT (on the bench) Beale played 5 tests, 4 of them against the top two teams in the world, and kicked 8 out of 9 goals; At this stage it looks like K Hunt will have had a small number of super games, if that. I am sorry but I do not have the faintest idea what you and Jay Edwin are talking about. "Zero form" at test level, and this is somehow supposed to be far worse than K Hunt's zero PLAYED at test level? [None of the above should be seen as either an endorsement or denigration of Beale or Hunt - I am not convinced that either will be in the RWC squad]
Sammy
Guest
E-Meter Being a league convert makes you an automatic selection for the Wallabies. Surely the ARU aren't so stupid to spend that much money on any worthless player.
E-Meter
Guest
If Hunt makes the Wallabies then we will know that Australia has completely reached the abyss of mediocrity.
Cantab
Guest
Possible. There will be plenty of injuries this year, as there is every year. He probably only needs to be in say the top 7? Outside back in the country to have a decent chance of being a wallaby this year.
Max Power
Guest
Because he had a pretty terrible Rugby Championship
Mike
Guest
I protest Sir. K Hunt is a southern gentlemen who would never smoke crack or suck down Riesling. Its coke and chardonnay, or nothing.
Mike
Guest
How do you work that out?
paleocortex
Guest
surely Cheika meant to say "Once he gets back on the paddock and STOPS having a crack..."