Why it’s time for Karmichael Hunt to pay off his debt to Super Rugby at the Waratahs

Don’t believe the “poor Karmichael” rhetoric. The Waratahs’ new recruit deserves to cop his mistakes on the chin, and it’s about time he repaid Super Rugby, writes JIM TUCKER

NSW Waratahs player Karmichael Hunt takes part in a training session in Sydney, Tuesday, January 29, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

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Karmichael Hunt is the worst $2 million ever spent by Australian rugby.

Just maybe, he can still repay the code he has twice given a black eye through drug-related incidents.

Don’t listen to the “poor Karmichael” chatter about his exile from the Queensland Reds last year or having to move from cosy Brisbane to Sydney for a lifeline with the NSW Waratahs.

Actually copping some meaningful consequences for the first time, as happened last year, may yet help him “on my learning curve to improving as a man” as he calls it.

Karmichael Hunt, Michael Hooper and Israel Folau together before the Waratahs first match this weekend. Picture: Brett Costello

It’s a shame it took until he was 31 for something to be taken away from him that really mattered, his footy career.

If he’d been less protected by the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Suns and 2015 Reds, the lesson might have sunk in earlier.

Hunt missed the full 16-game Super Rugby season last year.

All those pent-up feelings will be channelled into his comeback at inside centre for the Waratahs against the Hurricanes in Sydney on Saturday night.

There are at least four Karmichael Hunts. That’s been one of the issues.

Karmichael Hunt was too protected at the Queensland Reds.

You’d kick loose “Off-season Karmichael” out of the footy codes for the way he feels rules don’t apply to him or that they can be manipulated if they do.

“Footy Karmichael” is the fierce and admirable player who puts no limits on what he can do and stands tall as a team man. They are achievements and words you buy into.

“Family Karmichael” is the devoted father-of-three.

“Karmichael 4” is an enigma who can say one thing with engaging words and often does another. He would admit to flaws yet didn’t always do enough to fix them.

Karmichael Hunt played six Tests for the Wallabies, which is not enough given the investment in him.

Hunt played just 32 of a possible 62 Super Rugby games for the Reds over four seasons for his $2 million in contract cash.

An impressive 2017 Reds campaign, a few strong games in 2016 and six Tests is all the value he has given rugby.

His Reds playing card for kids had to pulled from the 2015 deck so as not to offend parents and no one dared put his image on a promotional poster.

This is not a redemption story underway at the Waratahs.

It’s Karmichael Hunt playing footy, earnestly putting in at the last-chance saloon and just maybe giving an honest return on his $500,000-a-year contract.

Originally published as Why it’s time for Karmichael Hunt to pay off his debt to Super Rugby at the Waratahs