Waratahs star Karmichael Hunt says Folau saga has unified the NSW squad
Their Super Rugby season has been rocked by the Israel Folau saga, and none of the Waratahs are happy about it — but they insist they won’t have a wedge be driven between the squad.
There’s not a single player in the Waratahs who’s happy about the Israel Folau saga.
Some are miffed at the way he’s been treated and others are just annoyed that he put his personal beliefs ahead of the squad.
That’s a cardinal sin in professional sports where the team always comes first, but that hasn’t caused any splits.
“Within our team, there is no wedge,” Karmichael Hunt said.
“If anything, it’s brought us closer together.”
The players are all sick to death of talking about it, even though they can’t escape it so it’s still the main topic of conversation.
As a teammate, Folau has the support of all the Waratahs. But as a team, they’re also getting on with the business of playing rugby without him.
“I’m sure for Izzy it’s frustrating, it’s frustrating for everyone involved,” Hunt said.
“I think, if I can selfishly say, I wish it probably didn’t happen but it has happened and this is the way the process is played out, you’ve got no control over it.
“At the club, all we have to focus on is football and that’s all we have been focusing on so our focus since Izzy hasn’t been around is just on who we’ve got next and what do we need to do to get better.”
Next up are the Reds, the same team that gave Hunt the boot.
He has his own obvious motivations to beat them but it’s what the Waratahs need to do better than he’s more worried about.
Sitting second last on the Australian conference standings after losing seven matches by eight points or less, a defeat at Suncorp would be fatal for NSW.
“The boys, I believe, are as tight as ever, unfortunately the results aren’t falling our way at the moment,” Hunt said.
“Although it seems like a long stretch to some people we still believe, and we know that we still have our destiny in our hands and we’re looking forward to this weekend and getting back on track.”
The Waratahs have made three unforced changes to the side that was beaten by the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend.
Prop Tom Robertson will start for the first time this season after returning from a serious knee injury he suffered training with the Wallabies last year.
Lachlan Swinton replaces Tom Staniforth in a reshuffled backrow and Adam Ashley-Cooper will reunite with Hunt in the midfield, charged with the responsibility of containing Queensland’s in-form skipper Samu Kerevi.
"Having known Samu for the last five to six years and the amount of work he puts in week-in, week-out — and the way he's led his boys this year has been a pleasant surprise — he's definitely a danger man for us. As he is for every other opposition that goes up against him,” Hunt said.
"We have put a bit of time into him in the film room and obviously on the training track this week in preparation for it.
"When you play freakish talents, whether it be physical players like Samu or lightning wingers or fullbacks, it's your team defence that solves the problem and everyone being accountable for their own actions out on the field.
"That's something we want to pick up on as a unit, but also man-to-man, is being more accountable for our actions out there. This weekend provides a great opportunity for us to do that."