Queensland Reds consider allowing Karmichael Hunt to return to playing and training duties

THE Reds’ inclination to let Karmichael Hunt play prior to his court date next week could put the QRU on a collision course with the ARU.

THE Reds remain undecided whether Karmichael Hunt will return to action this week but their inclination to let the troubled recruit play prior to his court date next week could put the QRU on a collision course with the ARU.

Hunt was stood down last Friday after being served with a notice to appear in a Gold Coast ​court ​on March 5 on four charges of ​allegedly ​supplying cocaine.

NRL players from the Titans, Greg Bird, David Taylor, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling, and former squad member Joe Vickery, have also been charged in relation to the scandal.

Karmichael Hunt arrives at Reds training.

The Titans don’t kick off their season until March 7, but Gold Coast chief executive Graham Annesley said the players had been stood down from all playing and training responsibilities pending their appearance in court on March 9.

The Reds have a Super Rugby game against the Highlanders on Friday night, and rugby powerbrokers were yesterday debating whether ​Hunt will ​stay sidelined or​ be free​ ​to ​return to the Reds team.

The Reds and RUPA appear keen to allow Hunt to play in Dunedin, arguing principles of natural justice and the ​mitigating fact that​ Hunt’s alleged cocaine crimes were committed in a five-week period last year while he was still under contract to the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.

The Reds looked to be preparing the groundwork for Hunt’s return last week when they pointed out the fine print of his QCCC bust in a press release, saying he hadn’t been formally charged or arrested, only given a notice to appear.

It is a technicality — he’ll be charged prior to facing court on March 5 — but the QRU and RUPA see it as a relevant legal distinction when it comes to grounds for a continued suspension. Namely, he is not only innocent until proven guilty but he hasn’t even been charged yet.

The ARU, however, want Hunt to ​stay on the sidelines until he fronts court next Thursday; ​wary of damage to the game’s public image if Hunt is cleared to play with such serious charges hanging over his head.

Karmichael Hunt playing a trial match for the Queensland Reds.

Comparisons to the two suspended NRL players would no doubt be a factor to a code struggling to navigate the unchartered waters of a serious behaviour issue that occurred in another code but still invites judgment on rugby’s reaction.

Just who would have final say in the event of a standoff between the ARU and QRU remains unclear. Queensland fronted most of the cash for Hunt’s $500,000-plus contract but the ARU also chipped in, and ultimately in a tri-party agreement, the national body would presumably hold sway.

Due process is hugely important to RUPA but the ARU’s summary suspension of James O’Connor in 2013 two days after being escorted out of Perth airport intoxicated may serve as some precedence.

It has been speculated Hunt could face a lengthy ban — even for life — as prescribed by WADA and ASADA if found guilty of supplying cocaine, which is on the banned list as a stimulant.

But it understood WADA and ASADA will likely have no involvement in the Hunt matter, given cocaine only falls into their domain if it is detected by a game day drug test, as with the Wendell Sailor case. Outside of competition, cocaine is deemed a “recreational drug” and is dealt with under individual codes illicit drugs policies.

Questions about whether the AFL will play any role in future sanctions are seemingly moot, therefore, and it is believed the code has no intention of involving itself in the Hunt case.

Originally published as Queensland Reds consider allowing Karmichael Hunt to return to playing and training duties