He wanted it, he got it – now Queensland’s No.10 jersey appears to be Karmichael Hunt’s to lose.
But the spectre of a fit-again James O’Connor will make for an agonising decision for Reds coach Richard Graham as he mulls over his flyhalf options for their Super Rugby opener against the ACT Brumbies.
After pleading with his coach for an opportunity to fill in for the injured Quade Cooper, Hunt dazzled at five-eighth in Queensland’s surprise 35-12 victory over the Crusaders in Friday night’s final pre-season trial against the Crusaders.
The code-hopper ticked every box, steering his teammates around Ballymore in a four-try first half while also handling the kicking duties with aplomb, nailing four out of five attempts.
Hunt said he felt ready to take on the responsibility should Graham choose him for Friday’s clash in Canberra.
“I’m only going to get more comfortable in the role, I’m only going to get more confidence in how I can play the game,” he said.
“I enjoyed it. I just wanted to give myself to the game and role, take all the experiences, whatever was going to come my way.
“I didn’t want to overcook things, I just wanted to go out there and manage it, steer traffic in the right direction, put the footy down there when we needed to.
“I felt I did that.”
O’Connor, Queensland’s other marquee recruit, missed the Reds’ first trial due to a knee injury and didn’t play on Friday night after battling a severe bout of tonsillitis during the week.
But he will be fit for the Brumbies game and could be seen as a safer option than Hunt, whose only experience at flyhalf was a few games with French Top 14 side Biarritz in 2010.
“We said each week that he’d learn,” Graham said of Hunt.
“There were some things there that he obviously found a little bit different and difficult, but at the same time you’d have to say he controlled the game pretty well.
“To score four tries in the first half against a good Crusaders side, there’s something going right.
“I’d be keen to go back and watch the tape to see what we could improve or change.”
If Hunt needs further endorsements, he got one from the planet’s best flyhalf – his opposite number on the night, Dan Carter.
The All Blacks superstar said Hunt had all the attributes to become an excellent No.10, if he wasn’t close enough already.
“He’s skilful enough to play probably anywhere in the backline,” Carter said.
“Obviously he had great service from his forward pack, so he was getting great front-foot ball and taking the ball to the line.
“He’s got that sort of physical presence to him, which is always handy in those first five positions.
“Time will tell.”
