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Karmichael Hunt confirms new Super Rugby home

Karmichael Hunt

Karmichael Hunt says he is feeling “better than ever” as he looks to put his off-field problems behind him having swapped the Reds for the Waratahs.

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Hunt, capped six times by Australia in 2017, was left out in the cold by the Reds last year after being banned and fined by Rugby Australia having pled guilty to charges of possessing a dangerous drug and contravening a police direction.

In a separate case in 2015, Hunt was fined for cocaine possession but the 32-year-old insists those issues are a thing of the past having moved to the Waratahs from the Reds, with Bryce Hegarty going in the opposite direction.

“It means a lot to me that Daryl [Gibson, head coach] and the Waratahs have decided to give me another go, I’m ready to take this opportunity with both hands,” Hunt said.

“Myself, my family and my friends are all excited for the Super Rugby season ahead. I’m always the first to admit that I’ve made mistakes. But the time away from the sport has been the most important thing that has happened to me.

“It provided me with the opportunity to reassess why I was making bad decisions and work through all of that with my family and my psychologists.

“Spending most of last year away from rugby allowed me to recuperate physically and mentally. Now I’m ready for this new opportunity, I’m feeling better than ever and fresher than I’ve felt in years.”

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Gibson added: “We acknowledge the off-field issues that Karmichael has faced in the past and today’s decision is one that as a team and a business, we have not taken lightly.

“We have made an informed decision after completing a thorough process by not only speaking with Karmichael, but also his family, his team-mates and broader support network, as well as consulting our own staff, board, players, and extended support team.

“Karmichael has been very open and genuine with us about his off-field issues and his desire to turn things around, not only professionally but personally.”

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AM 9 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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