Hunt in driver’s seat on road to redemption

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WHEN a decision is made at odds with our view, the absence of logic is the most basic cause of our angst.

Family members, close friends, colleagues with similar political leanings and any other interested parties may have been at each other's throats this past week when the conversation turned to the punishment meted out by both the court and his employers to Karmichael Hunt.

Wherever one stands though, it can't be argued logic was an absentee when the reasoning was explained.

When it comes to a crisis, Reds CEO, Jim Carmichael is a measured man.

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"Each individual will have their own perspective and opinion on this issue and this specific case based on their personal life experience," he said. "In arriving at these penalties we have all been acutely mindful of our responsibilities to sport and the wider community, as well as the long-term interests of the game, our stakeholders and our fans."

There will be those who dismiss the statement as a cleverly concocted piece of political sidestepping intended to protect the code, while at the same time keep a potential on-field star on the books.

Karmichael Hunt with Reds CEO Jim Carmichael. Picture: Getty. Source: Getty Images

I accept both that Carmichael was sincere, and that convincing the doubters of that is impossible. However, for those who might accuse the Reds of having an eye for the main chance, it is worthwhile considering that Hunt has yet to prove himself a major performer on the field, and this was potentially a perfect opportunity to eliminate the risk of their initial purchase, rid the code of a scandal not of their making, and save a reported two million bucks over the next three years.

A great number of the perfect among us, as well the imperfect but idealistic, wanted Hunt banned from sport forever, and the great majority of the imperfect but realistic probably felt he has got away lightly. I admit the six week ban and $30,000 fine seemed as lenient as it could get, but I am a proud, card-carrying member of the "second chance" union, and felt that total expulsion was an overreaction. (I have handed in my resignation of the "third chance" union.)

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We're all willing to put ourselves in the shoes of the professional sportsperson with the big money contracts and the jet-setting lifestyle, but very few have experienced, or would want to, the constant scrutiny in the relatively small bubble of the Australian sports star.

There's no violin being played here, and undoubtedly there are too many spoiled brats among the sporting elite in this country, but public scrutiny when you've erred on or off the field is an uncomfortable fact of life. The anonymous yearn for fame and the famous seek anonymity.

Many won't count as a penalty, the churning and consistent knot in his gut that Hunt will have had since this episode began, due mainly to the disappointment and embarrassment brought on his family. As someone in a similar situation, Wendell Sailor says none of that will go away in a hurry, if ever. A life sentence of sorts.

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He brought it on himself but if he were your son, brother or friend would you be baying for one strike and you're out? We can always unearth some logic in the search for leniency.

As for the role model argument, perhaps the best example we can set for our kids is the one of somebody making a big mistake and then having the chance to publicly prove they have learned their lesson.

Shuffling them off into oblivion tells our kids what. That only the perfect survive? We all know that's a lie.

QRU Chairman Rod McCall is a former policeman, a World Cup winning Wallaby and not a noted "softie" and it may be his comments that were the most telling.

"I believe in the man," he said.

Whatever we think about the logic of the punishment handed to Hunt, he is ultimately the man who'll determine the wisdom or otherwise.

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