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Hunt 'feels for' Folau and explains why his absence may open doors

Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Karmichael Hunt says he feels for Israel Folau but believes the Wallabies star’s absence could allow the NSW Waratahs to finally get some consistency in their backline.

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Folau faces a Rugby Australia (RA) code of conduct hearing early next month after his latest controversial social media posting.

Like Folau, Hunt has fallen foul of RA during his rugby career and received fines and suspensions after he pleaded guilty to drug possession charges in 2015 and 2018.

Hunt and Folau first played together in senior rugby league more than a decade ago when they were part of Queensland’s State of Origin team and the Kangaroos World Cup squad in 2008, and were Brisbane NRL teammates in 2009.

They faced each other in the AFL in 2012 when Folau was part of the GWS when they logged their first win, against Hunt’s Gold Coast side.

Hunt played in the Wallabies backline alongside Folau in 2017 and joined him at the Waratahs earlier this year.

Asked how he felt about Folau’s situation as someone who had been given chances after incurring the ire of RA, Hunt said. “It’s a sad situation.

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“I’ve got a personal connection with Izzy that’s gone back many years now, so to obviously see him the position that he’s in – regardless of what his behaviour has caused – I still feel for him.

“But there’s a process in place now which is out of our control, out of my control and away from my personal beliefs.

“We as a team just have to worry about moving forward.”

Several of the Waratahs’ Test backs were rested in the first half of the Super Rugby season and Hunt suggested Folau’s absence would allow them to establish some continuity.

“I guess now, unfortunately, the situation that has happened (with Folau) it’s given us the ability to maintain some consistency with our line-up,” he said.

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Hunt believes Kurtley Beale, the other main contender for the Waratahs’ inside centre spot, is now entrenched in NSW’s fullback spot vacated by Folau, after a strong performance last weekend.

And Hunt is relishing the prospect of playing regularly at inside centre, where he started his first three Tests, and potentially staking a claim for that position at the World Cup.

Hunt and Folau celebrate Wallabies try against Scotland in 2017. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“I’ve been pretty vocal about 12 being probably better suited to me than 15,” he said.

Hunt credited Waratahs coach and former All Blacks inside centre Daryl Gibson for adding different elements to his game.

“He can see things in my game which I can add in terms of just changing running lines and getting into positions which allow me to be a bit more effective,” he said.

AAP

In other news: 2021 Lions coach decided according to reports

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Nickers 31 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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