Hymel Hunt
{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Hymel Hunt
|fullname =
|image = Hymel Hunt North Sydney Bears.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|11|14}}
|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
|height = {{convert|191|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|99|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}
|club1 = Gold Coast Titans
|year1start = 2013
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 1
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Melbourne Storm
|year2start = 2015
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 3
|tries2 = 1
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 4
|club3 = South Sydney
|year3start = 2016
|year3end = 18
|appearances3 = 43
|tries3 = 11
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 44
|club4 = Newcastle Knights
|year4start = 2019
|year4end = 23
|appearances4 = 66
|tries4 = 22
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 88
|teamA = Samoa
|yearAstart = 2019
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|updated = 16 September 2023
}}
Hymel Hunt (born 14 November 1993) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|wg}}er or {{rlp|ce}}.
He previously played for the Gold Coast Titans, Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.
Background
Hunt was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and is of Samoan descent. He moved to Queensland, Australia at a young age and grew up playing rugby union.
He played his junior rugby league for the Redcliffe Dolphins, before being signed by the Gold Coast Titans.
Hunt is the cousin of Queensland Reds player and former Brisbane Broncos player Karmichael Hunt, and former South Sydney Rabbitohs teammate Kirisome Auva'a.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-close-in-on-karmichaels-cousin/story-fni3gpfh-1226696578759|title=Storm close in on Karmichael Hunt's cousin|publisher=Heraldsun.com.au|access-date=2015-06-18}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/family-a-central-issue-for-hunt/tabid/10874/newsid/93096/default.aspx|title=Family a central issue for Hunt|publisher=National Rugby League|date=2016-02-21|access-date=2016-02-25}}
Playing career
=Early career=
From 2011 to 2013, Hunt played for the Gold Coast Titans' NYC team.{{cite web|date=2013|title=Hymel Hunt Player|url=http://rleague.com/players/Hymel-Hunt_3208/Matches/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920232843/http://rleague.com/players/Hymel-Hunt_3208/Matches/|archive-date=20 September 2013|access-date=16 June 2015}} On 21 April 2012, he played for the Queensland under-20s team against the New South Wales under-20s team.{{cite web|url=http://m.nrl.com/AbouttheGame/ToyotaCupInformation/ToyotaCupTrophy/tabid/10858/Default.aspx|title=U20's State of Origin|publisher=M.nrl.com|access-date=2015-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210224018/http://m.nrl.com/AbouttheGame/ToyotaCupInformation/ToyotaCupTrophy/tabid/10858/Default.aspx|archive-date=10 February 2015|url-status=dead}}
=2013=
In Round 17 of the 2013 NRL season, Hunt made his NRL debut for the Gold Coast Titans against the Penrith Panthers.{{cite web|date=6 July 2013|title=The Late Mail: Titans vs Panthers|url=http://www.titans.com.au/news-display/The-Late-Mail-Titans-vs-Panthers/78861|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014708/http://www.titans.com.au/news-display/The-Late-Mail-Titans-vs-Panthers/78861|archive-date=3 December 2013|access-date=27 January 2015}} In April 2013, he again played for the Queensland under-20s team against the New South Wales under-20s team.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/under-20s-origin-squads-named/tabid/10871/newsid/71757/default.aspx|title=Under 20's Origin squads named|publisher=National Rugby League|access-date=2015-04-05|archive-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629232416/http://www.nrl.com/under-20s-origin-squads-named/tabid/10871/newsid/71757/default.aspx|url-status=dead}} On 27 August 2013, he was named at centre in the 2013 NYC Team of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/2013-holden-cup-team-of-the-year/tabid/10874/newsid/74260/default.aspx|title=2013 Holden Cup Team of the Year|publisher=National Rugby League|date=2013-08-27|access-date=2015-05-05}} On 21 August 2013, he signed a 1-year contract with the Melbourne Storm starting in 2014.{{cite web|date=21 August 2013|title=Storm hunts down more young guns|url=http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Storm-hunts-down-more-young-guns/82450|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231061526/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Storm-hunts-down-more-young-guns/82450|archive-date=31 December 2013|access-date=16 June 2015}} On 13 October 2013, Hunt played for the Junior Kangaroos.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/junior-kangaroos-team-named/tabid/10874/newsid/75007/default.aspx|title=Junior Kangaroos team named|publisher=National Rugby League|date=2013-10-07|access-date=2015-05-05}}
=2014=
In 2014, Hunt received a two-match suspension from the NRL after being found to have placed a bet on NRL matches.[http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/nrl-to-look-at-injury-disclosure-after-gambling-suspensions-20140710-zt3br.html NRL to look at injury disclosure after gambling suspensions] Theage.com.au, 10 July 2014 He re-signed with the Storm for 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2014/09/26/storm_wishes_easts_good_luck.html|title=Storm wishes Easts good luck – Storm|date=26 September 2014|publisher=Melbournestorm.com.au|access-date=2015-06-18}}
=2015=
Hunt made his Melbourne debut in Round 14 of the 2015 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels,{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2015/06/15/late_mail_round_14.html|title=Late mail: Round 14 – Storm|date=15 June 2015|publisher=Melbournestorm.com.au|access-date=2015-06-18}} scoring a try on debut.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2015/06/15/storm_fall_agonising.html|title=Storm fall agonisingly short – Storm|date=15 June 2015|publisher=Melbournestorm.com.au|access-date=2015-06-18}} After the 2015 season, he was released by the Storm.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wayne-bennett-signs-dragons-backrower-bulldogs-outside-back-re-signs-nrl-market-watch/story-fnp0lyn3-1227584446482|title=Wayne Bennett Signs Dragons Backrower; Bulldogs Outside Back Re-Signs|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=2015-10-28}} On 20 December, he signed a one-year contract with South Sydney starting in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/burgess-officially-cleared-for-rabbitohs-return-20034/#QAzwPYw2CSTpkeHX.97|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222035458/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/burgess-officially-cleared-for-rabbitohs-return-20034/#QAzwPYw2CSTpkeHX.97|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2015|title=Burgess officially cleared for Rabbitohs return | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2014-09-29|access-date=2015-12-21}}{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/the-12-players-in-nrl-limbo-just-three-months-out-from-2016-season-kick-off/story-fn2mcuj6-1227628432601|title=The 12 Players in NRL Limbo Just Three Months Out From 2016 Season|work=Fox Sports|location=Australia|access-date=2015-11-30}}
=2016=
In round 1 of the 2016 NRL season, Hunt made his club debut for the South Sydney club against the Sydney Roosters, playing at centre and scoring a try in South Sydney's 42–10 win at the Sydney Football Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/reynolds-sutton-injured-as-bunnies-smash-roosters/tabid/10874/newsid/93486/default.aspx|title=Reynolds, Sutton injured as Bunnies smash Roosters|date=6 March 2016|publisher=National Rugby League|access-date=2016-03-07}}
=2017=
Hunt had a season plagued by injury in 2017 limiting him to only 12 appearances for the year.{{cite web |url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/team/profiles/hymel_hunt.html |title=Hymel Hunt |publisher=Rabbitohs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204171216/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/team/profiles/hymel_hunt.html |archive-date=4 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/MTItMTY5Ni00LS0tLS0tMjA1NzItLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0t|title=Custom Match List – Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=15 June 2018}}
=2018=
Hunt made 21 appearances for Souths and scored seven tries as the club finished 3rd on the table at the end of the regular season and made it all the way to the preliminary final before being defeated by Sydney Roosters 12–4.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/MTItMTcxNy00LS0tLS0tMjA1NzItLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0t|title=Custom Match List – Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=13 November 2018}}
On 12 November, Hunt signed a one-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/15/benched-duo-hymel-hunt-and-dean-britt-all-for-doing-whats-best-for-south-sydney-rabbitohs/|title=Team comes first for benched Rabbitohs duo|date=14 September 2018|access-date=13 November 2018}}
=2019=
Hunt made 24 appearances for Newcastle and scored nine tries in the 2019 NRL season as the club missed out on the finals finishing a disappointing 11th place.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/mass-exodus-hits-newcastle-knights-as-new-era-begins/fd0bd46a-e667-4a03-acf8-f9417953e9ff/|title=Newcastle Knights begin new era as mass exodus hits club after disappointing 2019|website=wwos.nine.com.au|date=18 September 2019 }}
=2020=
Hunt made 20 appearances for Newcastle and scored eight tries in the 2020 NRL season, as the club made their first finals appearance since 2013 where Newcastle lost 46–20 in week 1 of finals against South Sydney, where Hunt scored two tries in the loss.
Due to his form throughout 2020, Hunt was rewarded with being selected in Queensland 27 man squad, where he played no games in the 2–1 upset series win.
=2021=
Hunt played 17 games for Newcastle in the 2021 NRL season including the club's elimination finals loss against Parramatta.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-12/nrl-parramatta-eels-defeat-newcastle-knights/100436668/|title=Parramatta Eels defeat Newcastle Knights 28-20 in NRL elimination final|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=12 September 2021}}
=2023=
After playing 66 games for the Knights, Hunt parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2023/09/05/kalyn-ponga-claims-2023-danny-buderus-medal/|title=Kalyn Ponga claims 2023 Danny Buderus Medal|date=5 September 2023|website=Newcastle Knights}}
= 2024 =
On 6 October, Hunt was one of the confirmed players who were honoured at the 2024 NRL retiring players parade.{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2024-10-06 |title=NRL to honour retiring players |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/10/06/nrl-to-honour-retiring-players/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/newcastle-knights/hymel-hunt/ Newcastle Knights profile]
- [https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/south-sydney-rabbitohs/hymel-hunt/ South Sydney Rabbitohs profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150330153921/https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/team/profiles/hymel_hunt.html Melbourne Storm profile]
{{2013 National Youth Competition Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Hymel}}
Category:Brisbane Tigers players
Category:Gold Coast Titans players
Category:Melbourne Storm players
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:North Sydney Bears NSW Cup players
Category:Newcastle Knights players
Category:Junior Kangaroos players
Category:Redcliffe Dolphins players
Category:Rugby league players from Auckland
Category:Samoa national rugby league team players
Category:Samoan rugby league players
Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players