Karmichael Hunt situation leaves everyone scratching their heads says former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack

TWO days after we first heard of Karmichael Hunt’s situation, the vast majority of us are still sitting where we sit, shaking our heads and asking why.

FILE: Reds v Rebels - Trial Match

TWO days after we first heard of Karmichael Hunt’s situation, most of us are still sitting where we sit, shaking our heads and asking why.

A verse from a Jimmy Buffet song is as near as I can arrive at an answer.

The live version of the appropriately titled Fruitcakes tells us “human beings are flawed individuals” and “the cosmic baker took us out of the oven a little too early”.

The sidebar to the events of Thursday and Friday was the frantic investigation of who belonged to whom when the alleged actions occurred.

Karmichael Hunt arrives at Reds training.

Was Hunt a Gold Coast Sun or a Queensland Red at the time?

Contractual and other financial issues will be interwoven with the legal gymnastics that are certain to unfold and administrators will want to avoid involvement in squabbles not under their jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, it seems rugby, AFL and rugby league will all cop some heat over a story that has rocked Queensland sport.

If the allegations are true, is the stupidity of employees the fault of their employers?

A bit of yes and no, I reckon.

Will Swanton, one of this country’s most astute observers of sport, clearly thinks it’s mainly yes.

“The problem with some young footballing galoots is that they believe they’re bigger than their codes because that’s the message they receive from their clubs, franchises and the codes themselves,” Swanton wrote.

“The fawning from officials at club level is pathetic.

“Players subsequently reek of their senses of entitlement.’’

Swanton is right in that too many people involved in high level sport seem to think what they do is up there with unlocking the secret to world peace.

Karmichael Hunt had a difficult outing in what could be his one and only Super Rugby appearance.

What these people really need is perspective.

The public and media might have a glance in the mirror too.

The “celebrity’’ age that we have helped create reinforces many of the unlikeable characteristics of spoiled sporting brats we come to despise. Whatever other horrors this case may have in store for us, none of rugby, AFL nor NRL will cop any sort of fatal blow.

As an individual club with other issues and a lengthening player rap sheet, the Gold Coast Titans might be feeling slightly more uncomfortable, but ultimately people move on.

Wendell Sailor was one of the biggest names in both rugby union and league when he was nabbed for cocaine use.

Wendell Sailorhas done his best to educate others over the perils of drug use after his own indiscretions.

Despite the headlines, both codes carried on.

As one who put his hand up and has done more than his bit in trying to educate young people about the futility of drug use, Sailor will be devastated at developments over recent days.

Will parents stop their kids playing rugby because a well known player made a dumb decision regarding drugs?

If so, I trust they will also cancel piano lessons, choir practice and pull little Harry out of the school play, because there is no shortage of “role models” in the creative arts who have dabbled (or worse) in the world of illegal drugs.

We are flawed.

And we’re not bad at hypocrisy either.

Originally published as Karmichael Hunt situation leaves everyone scratching their heads says former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack