NRL 2023: Former cross-code superstar Karmichael Hunt has emerged as the next NRL coach

Karmichael Hunt was a pioneer in Australian sport, playing three different codes at the highest level. Now he’s making waves as a coach.

Former triple-code superstar Karmichael Hunt has become one of the NRL’s most promising emerging coaches after producing a remarkable transformation in Queensland’s top competition.

Hunt has taken Souths Logan from last year’s Hostplus Cup wooden spoon to top-of-the-table and on the brink of the minor premiership.

In his first season as head coach, Hunt has the Magpies three points clear at the top of the ladder with three rounds to play before the finals.

The Magpies have a 13-2 (two draws) record and can edge closer to being crowned minor premiers by beating the Brisbane Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium on Saturday night.

It has been a stunning turnaround for the Magpies under Hunt after they finished dead last in 2022 with just two wins from 18 games.

Hunt, 36, carved out one of the most remarkable careers in Australia’s sporting history, becoming the first person to play in the NRL, AFL and Super Rugby.

Now he is making waves with the clipboard after setting his sights on becoming an NRL head coach.

Hunt said he was in no rush to make it to the top grade and was enjoying his time with the Magpies.

Karmichael Hunt played AFL for the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Adam Head

“I’ll continue to do what I’m doing,” he said.

“I’ve just got to get my hands dirty, which I’m doing, and run my own team, develop my own players and recruit.

“The full coaching experience you get at Cup level is exactly what I need now and in the immediate future. Then I’ll think about a plan to move into the NRL landscape at some point.

“I’m under no illusions and have tremendous respect for how much a head coaching job contains. I just want to make sure I tick all the boxes off before I rush into anything.

“I’ll be staying at Souths next year and I’m looking forward to piling on the experience. First and foremost we need to finish this year well then build again and keep learning.

“I’ll move into full-time next year and maybe some work with the Broncos in development. That’s all to be worked out.”

Hunt made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2004 as a 17-year-old and played State of Origin for Queensland in 2006, the same year Brisbane won the NRL premiership.

He was a Maroons and Kangaroos star when he made the bombshell decision to switch codes and join AFL expansion club the Gold Coast Suns in 2009.

After five years in the AFL, Hunt switched codes again to rugby union with the Queensland Reds and made his Wallabies debut in 2017.

Hunt played two games for the Broncos in 2021. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

He made a brief playing return in league with Souths Logan in 2021 which led to a two-game NRL cameo with the Broncos before he embarked on a coaching career.

Hunt coached Souths Logan’s under 18s to a dominant premiership win in the Mal Meninga Cup last year and was an assistant to the Hostplus Cup team during their wooden spoon season.

He took over the Magpies’ top job heading into this season and made an instant impact.

“My initial observation was the footy conditioning levels weren’t up to standard so we hit them pretty hard in the pre-season and paired that with getting some key players in that we thought we were missing, namely in the halves,” Hunt said.

“We were able to retain some of our core group and we worked on the conditioning base first then put some decent footy players in to run the program on the field. So far they’re going pretty well.

“When you’re travelling that well, there’s quite a few contributors each week.

“From my Cup group, Jack Campagnolo and Rory Ferguson have been really consistent performers along with Jesse Jennings and Jordan Pereira, who has been fantastic all year.

“Tristan Sailor is a class act and we knew he’d get back to playing his best football pretty soon. Blake Mozer has come along in leaps and bounds and Ben Te Kura and Logan Bayliss have been fantastic as well.

“They’re all contributing and standing out, which is fantastic.”

Hunt took over the Magpies from Steven Bretherton this season. Picture: Josh Woning

Hunt was entrenched in the professional sport arena from his late teens for the best part of 20 years.

He’s taken a step back into the semi-professional Hostplus Cup and said it has been a great grounding as he works towards a career coaching in the NRL.

“It’s been good, a nice transition,” he said.

“To be honest, going back into junior footy in the under-18s was the biggest adjustment, having lived in that professional arena for 18 years.

“Stepping back and coaching juniors was probably a lot more difficult than stepping up and coaching Cup.

“I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been made a lot easier with the coaching staff like Justin Hodges and Issac Luke helping me out.

“They’re really good guys I’ve got helping me. I’m keen to see how we finish it off.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Former cross-code superstar Karmichael Hunt has emerged as the next NRL coach