Karmichael Hunt

Brisbane fullback, 2004 ‘Rookie of the Year’, played for both rugby codes at schoolboy level before coming straight into the Broncos’ top team. The movement of Australian Test captain Darren Lockyer to pivot saw Hunt secure the fullback position with the club. Such was his early season impact Hunt, who was born in Auckland NZ, was courted by Kiwi selectors for the ANZac Test but declared his intention to play State of Origin for Queensland and ultimately, Australia. He was then deliberately excluded from the season’s representative matches at the intervention of his club coach, Australian national coach Wayne Bennett, who felt it would be too much for the 17-year-old (Hunt, who appeared in all 26 club games for the Broncos in his debut season, did not turn 18 until November 2004) in his debut season. Hunt finally got his rep opportunity in 2006 – making his test debut at fullback in Australia’s 50-12 win over NZ in April before playing in the Maroons’ 30-6 win in the second match of the successful State of Origin series. When he made his comeback from injury Hunt alternated between fullback and wing for the Broncos (he was on the flank in the club’s 15-8 grand final victory) before shifting back to fullback in all five Tests in Australia’s Tri-Nations triumph.