Gold Coast say their AFL rise won’t come at the expense of Karmichael Hunt despite speculation the former rugby league star is getting left behind by his younger teammates.
After a breakthrough season in 2012 where Hunt proved himself as an AFL player in 18 appearances for the Suns, the 26-year-old has struggled to make a similar impact this year.
While youngsters such as Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia and Trent McKenzie have emerged to lift the Suns to their best campaign, Hunt has played a marginal role while battling poor form and injury.
His last senior appearance came against Adelaide at the end of June after a lengthy hamstring injury lay-off and Hunt could only pick up two possessions before being subbed out at three-quarter time.
Since then Hunt has been forced to play for the club’s reserves and now faces another lay-off due to a calf injury.
Earlier this month, former Brisbane forward Alastair Lynch questioned whether Hunt, one of the club’s highest earners, would offer value for money for the Suns after his current deal expires at the end of next season.
Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft, a former teammate of Lynch, flatly denied the suggestion there’s no future in the AFL for Hunt.
While admitting he had endured a tough season, Ashcroft said the Suns were confident there was still a first-team role for Hunt in the future.
“We rate him highly with regard to his off-field leadership around the club, his preparation and the way he goes about things are second to none,” Ashcroft told AAP.
“On-field we still feel there’s a role for him in the side.
“We think Karmichael’s improved immensely since he started and he’s improving with every session and every year, it’s just a bit unfortunate he’s had a couple of issues with his body which has held him back.”
The speculation over Hunt’s future has prompted retired rugby league star Darren Lockyer to urge NRL club Brisbane Broncos to try to lure the former Queensland State of Origin and Australia representative back to the 13-man code.
Hunt’s first NRL club captain Gorden Tallis is one who believes that would be a great move if there is no future for his old teammate at the Suns.
“I felt a bit sorry for Karmichael because he’s had a red-hot crack and he’s been very good for them,” Tallis told AAP.
“For a guy that’s picked up a brand-new sport that he’s never really played … he can be super-proud.
“If he doesn’t have an option there (Suns) and it makes Karmichael happy to come back, I’d love to see him play for the Broncos again, for sure.”
