Karmichael Hunt

In 2004, the Brisbane Broncos unveiled a new star in 17-year-old Karmichael Hunt, who arrived in the off-season with a huge reputation and exceeded all expectations as the only Bronco to play all 26 games, including finals, against Melbourne and North Queensland.

Such was his impact, the New Zealand Rugby League asked him to make himself available for the Kiwis, only to be told the Auckland born fullback had pledged his allegiance to Queensland and Australia. 

Hunt's family had moved to Queensland when he was 10. He had played junior league with Avondale in Auckland, and the family signed him up at Souths Acacia Ridge, from where he representing Queensland at Under 14 level. He also played league at Sunnybank High, before winning a scholarship to Churchie, where he played rugby union and Australian rules. He continued to play club league at weekends and represented Queensland under b17s.

The Broncos had placed him on a development contract while he was at Churchie, and he remains the club's youngest ever player, making his NRL debut against the Warriors, on March 14, 2004, when he was just 17 years 118 days old.

Karmichael has an attitude just like Lockyer where he can make a mistake and kiss it off and just get on with the game.

Wayne Bennett Queensland Maroons coach

Hunt scored 15 tries that season, and was named Dally M Rookie of the Year. He made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in Game II of the 2006 series.

Hunt went on to play a further nine games for Queensland, being part of four series wins, and keeping arguably the greatest fullback of the modern era, Billy Slater, out of the No.1 jersey, until the 2008 series, when Hunt played five-eighth in Game I, before returning to the custodian role for Game II and Game III.

In 2009, Hunt was an interchange played for the Maroons, with Slater playing all three games at fullback. Hunt played a key role in the success of the Broncos in 2006, playing 17 games and slotting successfully to the wing in the grand final, with Justin Hodges at fullback in the 15-8 win over Melbourne Storm.

Hunt made his Test debut at the end of the season, in the Tri Nations, and went on to play 11 Tests for the Kangaroos, eight at fullback and three as an interchange player. 

After 125 NRL matches for the Broncos, Hunt had an off-season stint in French rugby union, before joining Gold Coast Suns in the AFL, in 2010. He played five seasons in the AFL, before switching to rugby union, where he became a dual international.

In 2021, he returned to rugby league, playing with Souths Logan Magpies and being called up for two games with the Broncos in the NRL.

In 2022, he joined the Magpies' coaching staff, guiding their Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup side to the title.