Souths Logan Magpies have announced Karmichael Hunt will return to “the nest” in season 2022 as the coach of their Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup team.
Magpies CEO Jim McClelland said the club was thrilled to have Hunt on board as a member of the staff.
“The club is enthusiastic to announce Karmichael’s appointment as coach of our [Auswide Bank] Mal Meninga Cup side in 2022,” McClelland said.
“The Magpies started on a journey with Karmichael 23 years ago and we are thrilled that he chose to return to Souths Logan Magpies in 2021 with the intention of starting his coaching career with our club.
“He brings a wealth of knowledge, integrity and the Magpies DNA and we look forward to being a part of his coaching journey.”
Hunt began his league journey in New Zealand at the age of four, instantly falling in love with the sport.
After moving to Australia at the age of 11, Hunt began his local football journey at Souths Juniors at Acacia Ridge.
Hunt went on to represent the club throughout his schooling, whilst making both club and school boy representative sides.
The former Queensland Maroon began his professional career with the Brisbane Broncos at just 17 years of age – making him the youngest player to debut at the club.
His illustrious career led him to play 120 games for the Broncos, win a premiership, play in four successful State of Origin series and represent Australia 11 times.
The successes of league were left behind in favour of a different challenge as Hunt followed various sporting pursuits, including a season abroad in France playing rugby for Biarritz Olympique before returning to Australia where he played AFL for five years, making 44 appearances for the Gold Coast Suns.
Hunt then took on another challenge in rugby union where he played for both the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs and even had the opportunity to play a handful of Tests for the Wallabies.
Hunt excited to return to rugby league with Souths
His career came full circle in his final year of playing professional football as he was able to debut for the Souths Logan Magpies as a senior player, 17 years after his professional career began in rugby league.
“I am super excited to begin my coaching career with Souths Logan Magpies, the club that represents the juniors I grew up playing for,” Hunt said.
“I have a real passion for helping the next generation of players coming through, and coaching this years’ Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup team gives me the opportunity to do so.
“I look forward to passing on the breadth of knowledge I have learnt so far.”
Outside of rugby league, Hunt has likes to spend family time with his wife Emma and four children.
He has also recently graduated from a Bachelor of Science majoring in psychology, and has begun a fourth year Masters with a sport psychology focus.
His long-term vision is to become a qualified sports / performance psychologist which interconnects perfectly with his role at the Souths Logan Magpies.
