Karmichael Hunt should look to play rugby overseas after drugs charge dropped
AFTER being slapped with a fine, Wallabies and Queensland Reds utility Karmichael Hunt must make the most of his great escape writes Jamie Pandaram.
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THIS should be the end of Karmichael Hunt’s football career in Australia.
It has been successful on the field — playing three codes professionally and internationals in both union and league makes him an exceptionally rare athlete.
But off the field he has found strife, and while Rugby Australia and Queensland Reds have not sacked him, Hunt must make the most of his great escape yesterday.
In the Brisbane Magistrates Court, Hunt had cocaine possession charges dropped, but was fined $600 for two other infractions — possessing Xanax and failing to attend a police station for fingerprinting.
The avoidance of a conviction has given Hunt a lifeline he desperately needs, because players found guilty of drug possession cannot sign contracts in France or Japan.
“I think it’s crucial for anyone that has the opportunity to travel overseas,” Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill said outside court yesterday.
“We don’t know what he’s going to be doing but, obviously, any reported conviction can stifle that.”
Hunt, 31, has a $1 million deal to play with the Reds and Wallabies until the end of next year, but that is effectively useless now because it is likely neither team would pick him given the negative publicity he has attracted.
He is certain to face an independent code of conduct hearing to determine his future in rugby.
In a short statement that suggests Rugby Australia cannot progress further until they gain access to police footage and further detail of the Hunt incident, the ruling body late yesterday said: “Rugby Australia has resumed its investigation in relation to his conduct.
“The Queensland Reds and Wallabies back will continue his voluntary stand-down from all rugby duties until the matter is resolved by Rugby Australia and the Queensland Rugby Union.
“A further update will be provided at the appropriate time.”
Hunt was never prescribed Xanax by any doctor within the Rugby Australia or Queensland.
Why was he found with a tablet?
This is a dangerous drug, not easily attainable.
It is prescribed as a sleeping pill and an antidepressant. It was found in Heath Ledger’s system after his death.
Magill said Hunt “can’t sleep, he had a tablet [Xanax] for that purpose”.
Still, the optics are horrible.
Police couldn’t prove whether Hunt or an associate had thrown cocaine on the ground before their arrest in Fortitude Valley late last year. Hunt may have never touched it. But again, the optics are horrible.
Hunt was fined $32,500 and banned for five matches by the Reds in 2015 after pleading guilty to four counts of cocaine possession, after he’d decided to make the move from AFL to rugby.
At the time Hunt said: “I can’t repay the faith overnight but I look forward to hopefully repaying the faith over the next couple of years both on and off the field.”
He worked diligently to earn back trust, and made his Wallabies debut last June.
Hunt became a mentor to young players, and RA offered him a significant contract extension to ensure he would be available for next year’s World Cup.
But now, it looks as though his Super Rugby and Test career is done.