Wallabies v England: Karmichael Hunt now feels ready to step up

Karmichael Hunt believes he was not ready to play for the Wallabies last year, but he is now.

Karmichael Hunt makes a break against the Crusaders last month.

Karmichael Hunt believes he was not ready to play for the Wallabies last year, but says he is now.

Hunt, who joined the Queensland Reds last year after careers with the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL, Gold Coast Suns in the AFL and French rugby with Biarritz, was part of the Wallabies training squad for the World Cup in ­England but missed the cut.

Now the code-hopper has another chance to become a dual international after being named in the Wallabies 39-man squad for the England Test series.

“Everything’s happened the way it should have. It’s as simple as that,” Hunt said. “As much as everyone, including myself, that missed out on a World Cup last year would have loved to be involved, it’s safe to say I wasn’t ready.

“I’m really happy to be involved and we’ll just see where it takes us.”

Hunt, 29, said his selection in the Wallabies squad was a “blessing” after his career was nearly ­ruined following his guilty plea in March last year to charges of ­cocaine possession in a Gold Coast Court.

“Obviously a pretty hectic ­couple of years,” Hunt said. “The light was probably a bit hard to see at the end of the tunnel, but things happen for a reason.

“My past is probably no different to a lot of other people. We all make mistakes and for him ­(coach Michael Cheika) to give me another chance to come and get involved this time around is a blessing for me. I feel honoured that I’ve been given the chance.”

There has been speculation Hunt could start for the Wallabies at fullback or inside centre, or play a Kurtley Beale-style super sub role off the bench.

“I suppose we’ll decide that on how he goes once he starts getting into the company of the players who are there (at the camp),” Cheika said. “But I think he has played really well this season. I won’t say best form ever, but he’s been really consistent.

“His support play, his dynamism in the game, his workrate ... things we look for off the ball, a lot are there.

“And he’s played games on the biggest stages across several codes. I’ve seen Karmichael play rugby before this stint here in ­Australia, in France, in Biarritz, where he was excellent playing in playmaker roles.

“He had an interrupted year last year, unfortunately, but this year he’s had a good go at it.”

Hunt is one of four backs in the squad with NRL experience, along with Israel Folau, Eto Nabuli and Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Naiyaravoro, who has just completed a stint in Scotland, will return to the NSW Waratahs after the June break for the remainder of this Super Rugby season and the next two.

Nabuli was discovered by rugby league legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler while working as a porter at the ­Intercontinental Hotel in Fiji, and was brought to Australia to play for Penrith and then St George ­Illawarra.

Nabuli grew up playing rugby in Fiji and switched back to the code of his youth by joining the Queensland Reds this season.

Naiyaravoro and Nabuli were the only specialist wingers named in the squad, but outside back Rob Horne is expected to play on one of the wings.

Additional reporting: AAP