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Out-of-favour Wallabies star Karmichael Hunt signs contract extension with Waratahs

Karmichael Hunt. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Veteran back Karmichael Hunt has signed up for a second Super Rugby campaign with the NSW Waratahs and has designs on getting back into the Wallabies squad.

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The 33-year-old six-test Wallaby had a strong first season with the Waratahs curtailed by a knee injury this year and his experience will be invaluable with a number of senior players moving offshore.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to can’t speak highly enough of Karmichael … his attitude, professionalism and experience will be extremely valuable this season,” new NSW Waratahs’ head coach Rob Penney said.

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A former rugby league and AFL star, Hunt has played 44 Super Rugby matches since switching over to rugby union with the Reds in 2015.

His turbulent time with the Queensland club came to an end last year after being released by head coach Brad Thorn, but was handed a lifeline by the Waratahs heading into the 2019 campaign.

He impressed for the New South Wales club, plying his trade mostly at second-five before his season ended early through injury.

That robbed him of the chance to push for a spot in the Australian World Cup squad and missed the entire National Rugby Championship, but could come back into the national reckoning with another strong showing in next season’s Super Rugby.

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With a raft of stars departing the Waratahs, including the likes of Bernard Foley, Sekope Kepu, Nick Phipps and Curtis Rona, Hunt is likely to play a key role with the franchise as they eye a return to the play-offs after missing out on the quarter-finals this year.

“He’s a player I’m really looking forward to working with and I’m pleased he’s remaining a Waratah for another season,” Penney added.

The Waratahs kick-off their 2020 Super Rugby campaign agains the Crusaders in Nelson on February 1.

– With AAP

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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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