League: Freeman backs Hunt's decision

Former New Zealand rugby league captain and coach Gary Freeman last night defended Karmichael Hunt's choice to play for Australia ahead of his country of birth, saying people should understand and respect the 19-year-old fullback's decision.

"It's a tough, tough decision for someone who is still pretty much a kid to make," Freeman said.

"I don't think I would like to be in that situation, so above everything I congratulate him for having the guts to make a call," he said in the Sydney Morning Herald today.

"People shouldn't castigate him for it. They should look a bit deeper, realise why he has made the decision and accept it."

Freeman said that because Hunt came to Brisbane from New Zealand with his family in his early teens, there was always the chance he would choose Queensland and Australia.

"Karmichael has come through the junior representative system in Brisbane and he has grown up with his mates that he's made here, so he has made a decision that is in line with that," he said.

"Sonny Bill Williams came over here later than Karmichael and he was always set on playing for New Zealand and that's fine, too.

"Karmichael probably faced a lot of pressure in making his decision, but he has made it and, either way, I'm happy for him that he's made it."

Hunt made it clear last month, after it appeared he might agree to play for New Zealand, that he would stick with his plans to try to win selection for Queensland and Australia.

- NZPA