Medal record
Cathy Freeman
Women’s Athletics
Competitor for  Australia
Olympic Games
Gold	2000 Sydney	400 m
Silver	1996 Atlanta	400 m
World Championships
Gold	1997 Athens	400 m
Gold	1999 Seville	400 m
Bronze	1995 Gothenburg	4 × 400 m relay
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1990 Auckland	4 × 100 m
Gold	1994 Victoria	200 m
Gold	1994 Victoria	400 m
Gold	2002 Manchester	4 × 400 m
Silver	1994 Victoria	4 × 100 m

Catherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAM (born 16 February 1973) is a former Australian sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at which she lit the Olympic Flame.^[1] Freeman was the first ever Aboriginal Commonwealth Games gold medalist at age 16 in 1990. ^[2] 1994 was her breakthrough season. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Freeman won gold in both the 200 m and 400 m. She also won the silver medal in the 1996 Olympics and came first at the 1997 World Champion in the 400 m event. 1998 saw Freeman taking a break from running due to injury. She returned to form with a first place in the 400 m at the 1999 World Championships. She announced her retirement from athletics in 2003.

Freeman was born in Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland, where the local athletics track is now named after her. Her coach throughout her athletic career was Peter Fortune. In 1999, she married Sandy Bodecker, separating in February 2003. In 2009, she married James Murch, with whom she gave birth to a girl in 2011. In 1998, she was awarded Australian of the Year, in 2001 the World Sportswoman of the Year and the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Career[link]

Freeman began athletics at a very young age. Her first coach was her stepfather, Bruce Barber. By her early teens she had a collection of regional and national titles, having competed in the 100 metres, 200 metres and high jump.^{[citation needed]}

In 1987, Freeman moved on to Kooralbyn International School to be coached professionally by Romanian Mike Danila, who become her first real coach and later a key influence throughout her career; he provided a strict training regime for the young athlete.^[3][4][5]

In 1988, She was awarded a scholarship to an exclusive girls' school, Fairholme College in Toowoomba. In a competition in 1989, Freeman ran 11.67s in the 100 metres and Danila began to think about entering her in the Commonwealth Games Trials in Sydney.

In 1990, Freeman was chosen as a member of Australia's 4 x 100 m relay team for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. The team won the gold medal, making Freeman the first ever Aboriginal Commonwealth Games gold medallist, as well as one of the youngest, at 16 years old. She moved to Melbourne in 1990s after the Auckland Commonwealth Games. Shortly after moving to Melbourne, Bideau her manager introduced Freeman to athletics coach, Peter Fortune who would become Freeman's coach for the rest of her career. She was then selected to represent Australia at the 1990 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. There, she reached the semi-finals of the 100 m and placed fifth in the final of the 400 m.

Freeman competed in her second World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea. She competed only in the 200 m, winning the silver medal behind China's Hu Ling. Also in 1992, she travelled to her first Olympic Games, reaching the second round of her new speciality event; the 400 metres. At the 1993 World Championships in Athletics, Freeman competed in the 200 m, reaching the semi-finals.

1994 was Freeman's breakthrough season, when she entered into the world's elite for the first time. Competing at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Freeman won gold in both the 200 m and 400 m. She also competed as a member of Australia's 4x100 m squad, winning the silver medal and as a member of the 4x400 m team, who finished first but were later disqualified. During the 1994 season, Freeman took 1.3 seconds from her 400 m personal best, achieving 50.04 seconds. She also set all-time personal bests in the 100 m (11.24) and 200 m (22.25).

Although a medal favourite at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Sweden, Freeman finished fourth.^{[citation needed]} She also reached the semi-finals of the 200 m.

Freeman made more progress during the 1996 season, setting many personal bests and Australian records. By this stage, she was the biggest challenger to France's Marie-José Pérec at the 1996 Olympics.^{[citation needed]} She eventually took the silver medal behind Pérec, in an Australian record of 48.63 seconds. This is still the sixth fastest time ever and the second fastest since 1985.^{[citation needed]} Pérec's winning time of 48.25 was an Olympic record and the third fastest ever.

In 1997, Freeman won the 400 m at the World Championships in Athens, with a time of 49.77 seconds. Her only loss in the 400 m that season was in Oslo where she injured her foot.^{[citation needed]}

Freeman took a break for the 1998 season, due to injury. Upon her return to the track in 1999, Freeman did not lose a single 400 m race, including at the World Championships.^{[citation needed]}

ABC footage and interviews of crowds celebrating Freeman's Olympics win.

Her winning streak continued into the 2000 season, despite Pérec's return to the track. Freeman was the home favorite for the 400 m title at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where she was expected to face-off with rival Pérec. This showdown never happened, as Pérec left the Games after an encounter with an Australian photographer.^{[citation needed]} Freeman won the Olympic title in a time of 49.13 seconds, becoming only the second Australian Aboriginal Olympic champion (the first was Nova Peris-Kneebone for field hockey in Atlanta).^{[citation needed]} After the race, Freeman took a victory lap, carrying both the Aboriginal and Australian flags. This was despite the fact that unofficial flags are banned at the Olympic Games and the Aboriginal flag, while recognized as official in Australia, is not a national flag, nor recognized by the International Olympic Committee.^{[citation needed]} Freeman also made the final of the 200 m, coming sixth.^[6] In honour of her gold medal win in Sydney, she represented Oceania in carrying the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies of the next Olympics, in Salt Lake City, joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Africa), John Glenn (The Americas), Kazuyoshi Funaki (Asia), Lech Wałęsa (Europe), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Environment), Jean-Claude Killy (Sport), and Steven Spielberg (Culture).^{[citation needed]}

Throughout her career, Freeman regularly competed in the Victorian Athletic League where she won two 400 m races at the Stawell Gift Carnival.^{[citation needed]} Freeman did not compete during the 2001 season. In 2002, she returned to the track to compete as a member of Australia's victorious 4x400 m relay team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.^{[citation needed]}

Freeman announced her retirement in 2003.^[7]

Since retiring from athletics Freeman has become involved in a range of community and charitable activities. She is an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.^[8]

Freeman was appointed as an Ambassador for Cottage by the Sea, alongisde celebrity chef Curtis Stone and big wave surfer Jeff Rowley. Cottage by the Sea is one of Australia's oldest charities and each year provides short-term beachside holidays and respite care for more than 900 children and families in need.^[9]

Personal life[link]

Freeman was born in 1973 at Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland to Norman Freeman and Cecelia. She and her brothers Gavin, Garth and Norman (who died after a motor vehicle accident on 16 September 2008) ^[10] were raised there and in other parts of Queensland. She also had a sister named Anne-Marie (1966–1990) who suffered from cerebral palsy and spent much of her life in a home for the disabled. Freeman attended several schools, but was mostly educated at Fairholme College, in Toowoomba.^{[citation needed]} Her parents divorced in 1978.^[11] Freeman has described how she has been influenced by early experiences with racism and also by her Bahá'í faith.^[12] Freeman was raised a Baha'i, and says of her faith, "I'm not a devout Baha'i but I like the prayers and I appreciate their values about the equality of all human kind".^[13][14]

Freeman's mother Cecelia (nee Sibley) was born in the Aboriginal community on Palm Island. Freeman's father Norman's father was Frank Fisher; Norman was raised by his mother Geraldine Roy and his stepfather Claude Freeman ^[11]. Freeman's late grandfather, Frank Fisher was an outstanding rugby player.^[15]

Freeman had a long-term romantic relationship with Nic Bideau, her manager, that ended in acrimony and legal wranglings over Freeman's endorsement earnings.^{[16] [17]} Freeman married Sandy Bodecker, a Nike executive and 20 years her senior, in 1999. After her success in Sydney she took an extended break from the track to nurse Bodecker through a bout of throat cancer between May–October 2002.^[18] She announced their separation in February 2003.

Later that year, Freeman began dating Australian actor Joel Edgerton whom she had initially met at the 2002 TV Week Logies. Their relationship ended in early 2005.^[19]

In October 2006 Freeman announced her engagement to Melbourne stockbroker James Murch.^[20] They married at Spray Farm on the Bellarine Peninsula on 11 April 2009.^[21] Freeman gave birth to Ruby Anne Susie Murch on 8 July 2011.^[22]

In 2008, Freeman participated in Who Do You Think You Are? and discovered that her mother was of Chinese and English heritage. As a result of a 1917 Queensland policy that Aborigines could serve in the military if they had a European parent, her paternal great grandfather, Frank Fisher served in the 11th Light Horse Regiment during WWI.^[23][11]

On her right arm, the side closest to the spectators on an athletics track, she had the words "Cos I'm Free" tattoed mid-way between her shoulder and elbow.^[24]

English textbook[link]

The story of Freeman and her accomplishments in the Olympics were used in an English book known as Sunshine in Japan. The book was used by Japanese junior high schools in their third year. It told of her winning the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. It then goes on to talk about Australia's Aborigines and then about her personal life. Her story is used as a means to teach relative pronouns to the students.^[25]

Personal bests[link]

Competition record[link]

International competitions[link]

National championships[link]

Circuit performances[link]

Awards[link]

• Australian of the Year 1998^[26]
• Australian Sports Medal 2000^[27]
• Centenary Medal 2001^[28]
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2001^[29]
• In 2001, Freeman received the Olympic Order from Juan Antonio Samaranch^[30]
• Laureus named Freeman Sportswoman of the Year in 2001
• Arthur Ashe Courage Award 2001
• The Deadlys 2003 – Female Sportsperson of the Year

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• McGreggor, A. (1998) Cathy Freeman; A Journey Just Begun. Milsons Point, Random House Australia. ISBN 0-09-183649-2

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cathy Freeman

• IAAF profile for Cathy Freeman
• Athletics Australia profile for Catherine Freeman
• Official Website
• The Catherine Freeman Foundation
• Powerhouse Museum collection
• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Dr. Peter C. Doherty	Australian of the Year 1998	Succeeded by Mark Taylor
Preceded by Marion Jones	World Sportswoman of the Year 2001	Succeeded by Jennifer Capriati
Olympic Games
Preceded by Muhammad Ali	Final Summer Olympic Torchbearer Sydney 2000	Succeeded by Nikolaos Kaklamanakis

v t e Winners of the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year 2000: Marion Jones* · 2001: Cathy Freeman · 2002: Jennifer Capriati · 2003: Serena Williams · 2004: Annika Sörenstam · 2005: Kelly Holmes · 2006: Janica Kostelić · 2007: Yelena Isinbayeva · 2008: Justine Henin · 2009: Yelena Isinbayeva · 2010: Serena Williams · 2011: Lindsey Vonn · 2012: Vivian Cheruiyot Since this award, Jones has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. Her award is in doubt.

Amanda Righetti
Righetti attending Maxim Magazine's 10th Annual Hot 100 Celebration Santa Monica, California - May 13, 2009
Born	(1983-04-04) April 4, 1983 (age 29) St. George, Utah, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1995–present
Spouse	Jordan Alan

Amanda Righetti (born April 4, 1983)^[1] is an American actress and film producer. She is best known for her roles in The Mentalist, Friday the 13th and The O.C.

Early life[link]

The youngest of eight children,^[2] Amanda Righetti was born in St. George, Utah,^[1] and raised in Nevada,^[3] outside Las Vegas.^[2] At Righetti's wedding to film director and writer Jordan Alan, actress Alexa Davalos was her bridesmaid.^[4]

Career[link]

Working as a film producer, Righetti oversaw production on numerous TV commercials and short films.^{[citation needed]} After securing a role in the pilot for a proposed, but ultimately scrapped series by the name of No Place Like Home,^{[citation needed]} she played a recurring character in the teen drama The O.C.,^[2] was a regular in the short-lived primetime soap opera North Shore, and in late 2005, Righetti starred in Fox's drama series Reunion. Other credits include a recurring role on K-Ville,^[5] guest roles on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Entourage, and a role in the TV movie Romy and Michele: In the Beginning.^[2]

In 2006, Righetti signed on to star as the female lead in horror sequel Return to House on Haunted Hill. The film was released direct-to-video in October 2007. In April 2008, she was cast as the female lead in the slasher reboot Friday the 13th.^[5] Production ended in June 2008 and the film was released to theaters on February 13, 2009. Also that spring, Righetti was signed to the CBS series The Mentalist,^[5] in the recurring role of Grace Van Pelt.^[2]

In September 2011, Righetti switched talent agencies from Paradigm to UTA.^[6]

Screen credits[link]

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Video games[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Amanda Righetti at the Internet Movie Database
• Amanda Righetti at AllRovi

Karmichael Hunt

Personal information
Full name	Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt
Born	(1986-11-17) 17 November 1986 (age 25) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb)[1]
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Wing, Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2004–09	Brisbane Broncos	125	53	0	1	213
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–08	Australia	11	4	0	0	16
2006–09	Queensland	10	0	0	0	0
Rugby union
Position	Centre, Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2009–10	Biarritz Olympique	15	3	0	0	15
Australian rules football
Position	Full-back, Back-pocket
Club
Years	Team				Pld	G
2011–	Gold Coast				21	1
As of Round 5, 2012
Source: Rugby League Project, It's Rugby, AFL - Footy Wire

Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt (born 17 November 1986 in Auckland, New Zealand) is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL).

He was formerly best known as a rugby league player for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League (NRL). He primarily played in the fullback position, but has also played on the wing and at five-eighth and halfback. Hunt played in the NRL for Brisbane from 2004 to 2009, and was part of the Broncos' competition-winning team in 2006. He has represented the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin series and the Australian Kangaroos at international level.

Hunt made his NRL debut in 2004 and played every game that season, winning the Dally M Rookie of the Year award. In a controversial move, Hunt chose to play for Australia instead of his native New Zealand, citing a lifelong dream of playing for Queensland in State of Origin.^[2] After a downturn in 2005, Hunt's 2006 performances resulted in his selection for Queensland and Australia. After consistent performances for the Broncos and continued selection for Queensland over 2006–2009, Hunt expressed a desire to leave the NRL competition.

In July 2009, he signed a three year deal with the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian rules football code beginning in 2011. In 2010, while contracted to the Gold Coast, he played a season with Biarritz Olympique in the Top 14 French rugby union competition.

Early life[link]

Hunt was born on 17 November 1986 in Auckland, New Zealand, to Hans and Tera Hunt, from Samoa and the Cook Islands respectively.^[1][3] He began playing rugby league at the age of four for the Avondale Wolves before moving to Australia in 1997, the family moved to the suburb of Algester in Brisbane, Australia.^[4][5] Upon moving to Brisbane, Hunt played junior rugby league for the Souths club in Acacia Ridge.^[6] Hunt's childhood hero was Michael Jordan^[1] and, prior to his rugby league success, he dreamt of playing basketball in the United States.^[7]

In 2000, Hunt made his representative debut with the Under-14 South–East team of the Queensland Rugby League (QRL), in the fullback position. In 2001, he became part of the Under-15 Australian merit side, and, upon seeing him play rugby league, NRL club Brisbane Broncos scout Cyril Connell offered him a scholarship with the club.^[8][9][10] Hunt accepted the Broncos scholarship and, after strong performance at Souths Acacia Ridge and Sunnybank High School, received a scholarship to the Anglican Church Grammar School (ACGS).^{[11][12][13][14]}

At ACGS, Hunt switched to rugby union and was a dominant figure in the school's team, which played in the Queensland Great Public Schools (GPS) competition.^[15][16] As a fullback, he led his team to an undefeated season in 2003, and he was one of the best players in the GPS competition.^[17] While playing rugby union at ACGS, Hunt also played for the Queensland Schoolboys rugby league team against New South Wales, in the position of lock.^[12] Along with Anton LaVin, he won the Bob Templeton Trophy for Queensland's leading schoolboy player.^[18] During the rugby off-season in 2003, Hunt played six matches of Australian rules football code for the ACGS school side under captain Scott Harding. During which time he was identified by Australian Football League talent manager Mark Browning as an "AFL prospect".^[18]

In 2003, Hunt was selected for the Australian Schoolboys rugby league representative team to tour New Zealand,^[15] playing three matches under coach Rod Patison.^[19] Hunt scored a try in each game and was named best back of the series.^[13][19] Australian Schoolboys' coaching staff predicted that Hunt was the most likely Australian schoolboy to make a debut in the NRL.^[13]

In 2004, St. George Illawarra Dragons coach Nathan Brown spoke about Hunt and a discussion he had with recruitment officer Craig Young a year earlier, when Hunt was still under contract with the Broncos. "He’s a terrific player. Craig Young who scouts for us watched him play last year and said give him $80,000 (to lure him to Sydney). I said ‘where would we play him?’ And he (Young) said ‘wing, fullback, centre, five eighth, lock – doesn’t matter because he’ll play first grade and play for Australia for the next 12 years’."^[20]

Brisbane Broncos[link]

Debut season[link]

Hunt's 2001 scholarship came to fruition when he joined the Brisbane Broncos' main squad at the end of the 2003 season. He participated in the team's off-season training in early 2004, under the guidance of Broncos' coach Wayne Bennett, and was selected to participate in the Broncos' pre-season trial games in February.^[5] Hunt had expected to play most of the 2004 season in the Queensland Cup, the second-tier rugby league competition in Queensland.^[21] However, after Darren Lockyer's shift to the five-eighth position and Hunt playing both trial games on the wing and scoring a try in the first game against the Melbourne Storm,^[22] he was selected to make his National Rugby League (NRL) debut for the Broncos in the first round of the 2004 season against the New Zealand Warriors, making him the youngest ever Bronco at seventeen.^[23] Coach Bennett's decision to name Hunt as the starting fullback was somewhat surprising, due to Hunt's original selection, the week before the match, on the interchange bench. He replaced Motu Tony in the fullback position.^[23][24]

Hunt in action in 2004, his debut NRL season.

Hunt described Bennett and Broncos team-mate Darren Lockyer as the greatest influences on his league career.^[5] With Lockyer's move from fullback to five-eighth, Hunt had large shoes to fill in the position. Hunt proved to be a success for the Broncos; he played every game in 2004, missing just four minutes in total,^[25] and was the team's top try-scorer.^[26] Bennett remarked of him that "Karmichael has an attitude just like Darren Lockyer where he can make a mistake and kiss it off and just get on with the game, It's a wonderful quality to have and you'd like every player to have it. A lot of guys dwell on mistakes and it stays with them too long."^[7]

Hunt drew criticism for his style of returning the football; upon receiving the ball, he would run straight at opposition players rather than attempting to evade them.^[7] As a result, he received several high tackles, causing the Broncos to ask the NRL to protect Hunt by punishing opposition players more severely.^[27] The referees' board supported this position, and stated that fullbacks such as Hunt needed to be protected due to greater risk of injury.^[28]

The performance of the 2004 NRL rookies, including Hunt, had been much anticipated. After a few games, his peers and the media singled Hunt out as the next superstar of the game.^[29][30][31] To minimise the impact of excessive media pressure on Hunt's performance, Bennett banned him from speaking to the media.^[32] Hunt scored four tries in the Round 17 clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, equalling the team record.^[33] His form earned him the Brisbane Broncos and Dally M Rookie of the Year awards.^[34][35]

2005[link]

At the end of 2004, Hunt signed a contract with the Broncos for an additional two years, with the intention of staying at the club for the rest of his career.^[36] On re-signing, Hunt stated, "I look around and see guys like Webbie and Locky who have been here for their entire careers, and it's something I would like to do. If I can, I want to be a one-club player too. Playing footy is not just about 80 minutes out on the field every week. For me it is a career and I want to be happy where I am, satisfied that my game is progressing and that I am learning all the time to be a better player."^[37][38]

Bennett advised Hunt to have fun and enjoy himself like any other teenager, so that it would not affect his second year in first-grade rugby league.^[39] However, Hunt's second season was not considered as successful as his first,^[40] despite his only missing one game, a situation that the media labelled "Karmichael's second-year syndrome".^[41] Hunt was retained in the fullback position despite his perceived lack of form, which included fewer tries and fewer kick returns than in his debut season.^[42][43]

Hunt scored a try in each of the first two games of the season.^[44] In Round 6, he was knocked unconscious by a high tackle from a St George Illawarra Dragons player, Shaun Timmins. The following week, still suffering from the effects of concussion, he missed his first NRL game since his debut.^[45] Hunt returned a week later and scored a try in each of the next three games. However, he only scored three more tries in the remaining sixteen weeks of the season.^[44] Hunt was a part of the junior Australian representative team at the end of the 2005 season, but was not considered for the game against Papua New Guinea for personal reasons.^[46][47]

2006[link]

Hunt in action against for the Broncos

Prior to the 2006 National Rugby League season, Wayne Bennett, backed by former Broncos halfback Allan Langer, groomed Hunt as a key play-maker, able to steer the play from the halfback position, with the intention of taking pressure off Darren Lockyer and then-halfback, Brett Seymour.^[48][49] In a trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys, Hunt played in the halfback position but he chose to return to fullback for the opening NRL game.^[50][51] Hunt scored two tries against the Canberra Raiders in Round 8 of the competition, following this performance with another two tries against Manly in Round 10.^[52]

Hunt sustained a foot injury in the Broncos Round 15 match and was sidelined for eight weeks.^[53] While out injured, early in the morning on 30 July 2006, Hunt was at the scene of a fight outside a Brisbane night club in Brisbane's CBD. The media, notably Channel 7 and Channel 10, alleged Hunt was the instigator of the incident, claiming he squirted water on a woman. The Broncos denied he had any involvement in the incident although a woman gave his name to police. Hunt also denied involvement, insisting he was merely a bystander.^[54]

Hunt in action for Brisbane

When Hunt's contract ended at the end of 2006, concern mounted as to whether the Broncos would be able to retain him.^[55] The Broncos could only offer Hunt about $200,000 a season, while other teams were able to offer him $300,000.^[56] The South Sydney Rabbitohs reportedly offered Hunt up to $500,000 a season, but despite these offers, on 29 June, he signed with the Broncos for a further three years.^[57] Brisbane Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen announced that contract negotiations were "straightforward" and there was never any doubt that Hunt wanted to stay at the Broncos.^[58]

During Hunt's injury, Bennett moved Broncos team mate Justin Hodges to fullback and Hodges was impressive in the position.^[59] When Hunt returned to the Broncos side in Round 25 against the Parramatta Eels, he was forced to play on the wing due to Hodges' good form.^[60] Hunt and Hodges continued to switch the fullback position for the remainder of the season. Hunt missed the first week of the finals due to a hamstring problem but was able to return a week later.^[61]

The Broncos went on to reach the 2006 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm, with Hunt playing on the wing and Hodges at fullback, and Brisbane winning 15–8.^[62][63]

2007[link]

Bennett pulled his first selection surprise of 2007, experimenting with Hunt at halfback for the opening game of the season.^[64] At the time Bennett maintained that this would be a long term switch, but due to the Broncos' poor form, Hunt returned to fullback for Round 3.^[65][66] In Round 11, the Broncos had their biggest victory yet, winning 71–6 over Newcastle. In that game Hunt set up three tries and scored one himself.^[67] The Brisbane newspaper The Sunday Mail described Hunt as not performing consistently throughout the 2007 season for the Broncos.^[68] However, Hunt played an exceptionally good game in Round 15 against the Wests Tigers, scoring three tries, assisting in a try and gaining 281 metres in the Broncos' win.^[69]

Hunt in 2008

Hunt's skill on the field and positive influence on other team members led to his emergence, early in 2007, as a future candidate for the Broncos captaincy.^[38] Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen stated that such a move would have his and the Broncos management's full support.^[70] Current captain Lockyer also gave his support to Hunt being the next captain, saying that he has the respect of fellow players and the necessary leadership qualities.^[71]

After Round 18 of the competition, during a training session on 20 July 2007, Hunt injured his hamstring and was originally scheduled to miss six weeks.^[72] However, his recovery took longer than expected, and he was eventually ruled out for the rest of the season.^[73][74] Despite playing only thirteen games for the Broncos in 2007, he received the Broncos award for Best Back.^[75]

2008 and beyond[link]

Over the 2008 pre-season Hunt recovered from his hamstring injury and played in his first match since being injured in a 23 February 2008 trial match against Canberra.^[76] After playing another trial in the position of five eighth,^[77] Hunt returned to first grade in Round 1 of the 2008 NRL competition playing fullback in the Broncos 48–12 win over Penrith.^[78] In Round 2 Hunt shoulder charged Sydney Roosters five eighth Braith Anasta in the head and was subsequently placed on report. The NRL judiciary committee charged Hunt with a Grade-Three Careless High tackle and if pleading guilty would miss one week of premiership competition.^[79][80] Pleading not guilty to the charge, Hunt was cleared to play by the judiciary with no penalty being given but missed one week anyway due to a knee injury.^[81][82]

In July 2008, speculation began on what Hunt would do past the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2009 season. With some high-profile defections of star league players to cashed-up rugby union clubs from France, Hunt is expected to be the target of offers from overseas and within Australia. Australian rugby union club Queensland Reds stated their intentions to attempt to lure Hunt to the rugby union code, with the reasoning being his successful young career in rugby union.^[83] From within the NRL competition, Sydney based clubs Sydney Roosters and St. George Illawarra Dragons stated their intentions to make a bid for Hunt for his services in the 2010 season, claiming they could double Hunt's three year deal from 2006, reported to be around $200,000. The Broncos however, were still expected to be a factor in his decision with the possibility of the captaincy a possible lure to remain with the Broncos.^[84]

Hunt in 2009

In the final round of the 2008 NRL competition, Hunt became the youngest player in premiership's history to reach 100 first-grade games. He set up three tries and scored one himself in the man-of-the-match performance against the Newcastle Knights in the game which secured the Broncos place in the competition finals. This performance came a day after his coach Wayne Bennett stated that Hunt was the "bravest" player he had coached because of the strong runs he made when returning the ball from fullback.^[85]

On 15 September 2008, a 24 year old woman lodged a formal complaint about a sexual assault that allegedly occurred two days earlier. The people alleged to be at the centre of the incident were Hunt and Brisbane Broncos team mates Darius Boyd and Sam Thaiday. The players cooperated with police and the three were cleared of the allegations in November by police. Hunt later said he was ashamed and felt he let down his family, fans and the Broncos.^[86][87][88] However, in May 2009, the woman stated she had a few drinks with Hunt, went into a toilet cubicle, and "after a few kisses, things went drastically wrong" and that in a "blink of an eye" Boyd and Thaiday were also in the cubicle.^[89]

Representative rugby league career[link]

Allegiance and debut[link]

In his debut season in 2004, Hunt was approached to play at international level for New Zealand in the ANZAC Test match.^[90] Although he was born in New Zealand, he had played all of his rugby league in Queensland, Australia. He was therefore eligible to play for either New Zealand or Australia, and he could have also played for the Cook Islands or Samoa due to his parents' heritage. However, Hunt pledged his allegiance to Queensland,^[7] and therefore Australia, but was not selected for either country that season.^[91] Hunt became a possibility for the Australian squad for the 2004 Tri-Nations, but Bennett, who was the Australian coach, decided not to select him due to his inexperience.^[7][92] In 2006, media speculation suggested that Hunt intended to change his allegiance and play for the New Zealand team, but Hunt put the speculation to rest by confirming that he would play for Australia.^[93]

Though Hunt was considered for the 2004 State of Origin series amongst other fullbacks, he was ignored for the entire series in favour of Penrith Panthers fullback Rhys Wesser.^[94][95] Hunt's good form in 2006 paid off when he was selected to play for the Australian team against New Zealand on 5 May as a replacement for the injured Anthony Minichiello. This decision proved controversial, due to his being preferred over the in-form Matt Bowen.^[93][96][97] That game was Hunt's representative and international debut, and though he performed well, he only played for 50 minutes, making one error and 83 metres in kick returns.^[98] However, he was unable to complete the game due to concussion sustained by a blow from Frank Pritchard. He was taken unconscious from the field and played no further part in the match.^[99]

After his Test debut, Hunt was expected to be the Queensland fullback in the first match of the three game State of Origin series. However, Queensland selectors decided to stay with incumbent Origin fullback Matt Bowen.^[100] The selectors reconsidered after Queensland lost the first game, selecting Hunt for the second match. In his State of Origin debut, Hunt ran with the ball seventeen times, making 196 metres.^[101][102] He missed the third Origin game because of a foot injury, sustained in the Broncos' Round 15 match, and was replaced by Clinton Schifcofske.^[53][103]

2006 Tri-Nations to 2008[link]

Hunt was one of eight Broncos players selected for the Australian team for the end of year Tri-Nations series.^[104] With the absence of injured rival Anthony Minichiello, Hunt retained his fullback position for the first Tri-Nations match,^[105][106] scoring two tries in a man of the match performance.^[107] He played in the remainder of the Tri-Nations series,^[108] which Australia won, Hunt scoring a total of three tries. The Tri-Nations win ended a good year for Hunt, who made his debut for Australia and Queensland before being a part of the premiership-winning Broncos team.

Hunt retained his fullback position for Australia in the 2007 ANZAC Test.^[109] Hunt ran the ball 18 times, the most of any player, and scored one try in a man-of-the-match performance as Australia won 30–6.^[110][111] Hunt was named fullback for all three games of the 2007 State of Origin series, despite the club form of rival fullbacks Billy Slater and Matt Bowen.^{[68][112][113]} In the second game, Hunt played a full match despite aggravating his foot injury as Queensland won the match and the series.^[114] He also played in the third Origin game despite suffering a calf injury during training.^[115] Hunt was not considered for selection in the end of year Test for Australia against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury sustained earlier in the season.^[74]

A minor knee injury which only left Hunt out for two weeks was enough to deny him the opportunity to regain the fullback position for Australia in the Centenary Test against New Zealand in May 2008.^[116] Hunt's place in the Queensland team for the 2008 State of Origin series was assured by Queensland coach Mal Meninga but there was speculation that Hunt could play five-eighth in place of injured team-mate Darren Lockyer. While not the best five-eighth possibility for the Queensland representative team, his selection there would make way for the Australian fullback Billy Slater.^[117] Hunt, having never played a senior rugby league game at five-eighth, was controversially selected at the position for Queensland instead of the in-form Scott Prince.^[118]

In a losing Queensland team, Hunt played neither well nor badly, being outstanding in defence but subdued in attack.^[119] As a result, Hunt's position at five-eighth was in question for the second game, but coach Mal Meninga stated that Hunt would remain in the team.^[120] Hunt was named on the interchange bench for the second game, making way for Queensland custodian and captain Lockyer in the five-eighth role.^[119][121] However, Meninga made a late change before the game, starting Hunt at fullback and moving Slater to the interchange bench.^[122] Hunt played in the match, which Queensland won 30–0, for only 51 minutes, being put on the interchange bench for 29 minutes in the middle part of the game. He retained his starting position for game three, which Queensland won to take the series.

2008 Rugby League World Cup and beyond[link]

In August 2008, Hunt was named in the preliminary 46-man squad for Australia in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[123] However he did not make the final 24-man squad because of 2008 grand final fullbacks Billy Slater and Brett Stewart who were selected ahead of Hunt.^[124] However Hunt was later called into the 24-man squad after Stewart was ruled out with injury.^[125] Hunt wasn't picked for the first match, with Slater picked ahead of him, however in the match, interchange player Kurt Gidley sustained an injury which subsequently led to Hunt being picked on the interchange bench for the second match.^[126] In the third regulation match, with a semi-final birth assured, coach Ricky Stuart choose to rest many of his regular players, including Slater, for the match.^[127] Hunt would play fullback for this match, and was moved back to the interchange bench for the semi-final and the final of the World Cup which Australia lost.

In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin match for 2009^[128] and was subsequently picked on the interchange bench for the opening State of Origin match on 3 June.^[129] Hunt came on in the 25th minute of the game to replace the injured Justin Hodges and played in his centre position for the remainder of the match which Queensland won.^[130] The consequences of this game would be felt as part of the 2009 swine flu pandemic in Australia. Hunt's Queensland teammate Ben Hannant tested positive to the Swine influenza and the Brisbane Broncos subsequently put all of their Origin players in quarantine. On 11 June 2009, tests confirmed Hunt tested positive to the influenza, and despite this, played in a 12 June 2009 game against the Bulldogs, despite health advice stating people with the influenza should remain isolated.^[131][132] Hunt's final game for the Broncos was the loss to Melbourne in the 2009 Grand Final qualifier.

Change of sports[link]

On 29 July 2009, Hunt signed a deal to switch codes and play Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Football Club, which joined the AFL in the 2011 season.^[133] The deal, reputed to be worth over $3 million is subsidised by the AFL and includes a substantial component of AFL development and promotional responsibility.^[134] The move generated significant controversy in both the NRL and the AFL and received international media coverage.

On 17 October 2009, it was revealed he agreed to play for the French professional rugby union team Biarritz Olympique based in Biarritz, Aquitaine.^[135] Hunt played in the Top 14 French club competition and the European Heineken Cup. Hunt made his debut for Biarritz Olympique off the bench against Racing Metro on 5 November 2009.^[136] The six month deal was arranged by his manager David Riolo after the previous deal fell through. He returned to Australia in May 2010 to begin his contract with the Gold Coast.^[137]

At the commencement of his AFL contract in 2010, he will become one of just three AFL players to earn over a million a year, the others being Jonathan Brown and Chris Judd.^[138] He is the first player to appear in the senior grade of both the NRL and the AFL (or their historical equivalents).

Before his AFL career had begun, Hunt featured in television commercials for Swisse vitamins introduced as Gold Coast AFL player.^[139]

The AFL's experiment was largely derided by AFL personalities throughout Hunt's early Australian rules career. Wayne Carey is quoted to have said that "I just think he's really going to struggle. I'm just not sure a rugby player - as good as he is - can do it." Tony Shaw was quoted in 2011 to have said "he just cannot play the game naturally and it won't work. Just say to him, 'Take your money, you've been fantastic for us', maybe see the year out, but I wouldn't be playing him very often any more." Paul Roos is quoted to have said that "a player of Karmichael Hunt's current ability would probably be worth only $100,000 in the AFL".^[140] Jason Akermanis is quoted to have said in reference to both Hunt and Israel Folau that "if they can't run and they can't handball - and we're only talking basics like kick, run, chase, handball and get body-to-body collisions - and can't get up to speed its going to be such a waste of time and money"^[141]

Australian rules football career (2010-)[link]

Victorian Football League (2010)[link]

On 12 June 2010, Hunt played his first Australian rules football match for Victorian Football League team the Gold Coast in their heavy loss against the Coburg Tigers at the Highgate Recreation Reserve in Craigieburn, Victoria.^[142] Playing at full-forward Hunt had three shots at goal in the first quarter, two from free kicks. Hunt kicked two goals in quick succession after he was awarded a free kick for a late push from an opponent after his running goal in the goalsquare. After this he was quiet with few possessions and left the field with cramp in the third quarter.^[143]

In his second match against Frankston Football Club on 26 June 2010, Hunt was tried as a defender, playing fullback on a taller, heavier opponent. He drew some criticism for not getting any kicks and for an inability to read the play, however running a total around 8 kilometres during the game on and off the bench Hunt managed just a handful of possessions and tackles in his side's convincing win.^[144]

Hunt's coaching staff have speculated him to make an experimental shift into the midfield (as centreman or ruck rover), however he was again selected at fullback for the match against the Box Hill Hawks.^[145] In the match Hunt had just three kicks, three handpasses and two marks before straining his groin in the final minutes^[146] and missed following games through injury.

In Cairns, Hunt had a breakthrough game against the Bendigo Bombers showing dramatic improvement.^[147] He followed the good form being named in the Gold Coast's best and clearly the best backman against the Sandringham Football Club, again playing in defence showing good run and carry skills with 15 disposals.^[148]

Australian Football League (2011-)[link]

Hunt's Australian Football League pre-season competition debut was at Blacktown Olympic Park on 19 February 2011 in front of a crowd of 10,000. Playing at fullback, he was named among the side's best in the three point win against the Sydney Swans while playing on dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes.^[149] In each of his two first pre-season matches, the second against the Greater Western Sydney Football Club, his performance statistics were consistent at six possessions and a tackle.^[150]

His first official AFL game was in the Suns' debut match in round two of the 2011 season against Carlton. He kicked his first AFL goal on 28 May 2011 against Geelong at Metricon Stadium. In the same match, however, he earned a one-week suspension for head-high contact to Geelong's Nathan Vardy.

Hunt's promising first season was rewarded by being named on the half-back flank in the Courier Mail 2011 Queensland Team of the Year.^[151] He followed this up by winning Gold Coast's inaugural Most Improved Player Award at the club's best and fairest awards on 9 September 2011.^[152]

He began his second season solidly, named among the 3 best Gold Coast players in Round 3 at Metricon Stadium against Essendon with 9 second quarter possessions, earning praise from coach McKenna as well as laying a solid shepherd on Essendon's Angus Monfries.^[153]

Hunt silenced the critics with outstanding form in round 4 against Brisbane. Again being named in Gold Coast's best excelling in the midfield with a career best 20 possession display.^[155] In the following match against North Melbourne, Hunt stepped up in the absence of Gary Ablett again in the side's best with 16 possessions, prompted North Melbourne coach Chris Scott to comment that "... anyone who has criticised Karmichael Hunt should also apologise and eat their words because on that performance he's a bona fide AFL midfielder."^[156] Hunt took to the next level with a third best in his side 22 possession display including an important goal against Fremantle in round 5.^[157] Going into round 6, Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy commented that the in form Hunt, rather than star player Ablett was the key threat in the match and would assign defensive taggers to him.^[158][159] Despite another consistent 16 disposal game, Hunt struggled to break the tag and some media commentators suggested that he had been outperformed by fellow league to Aussie Rules convert Israel Folau.^[160]

Career statistics[link]

Honours[link]

Footnotes[link]