Hunt for Wallabies: Dwyer

Former national coach Bob Dwyer reckons Karmichael Hunt should be fast-tracked into the Wallabies squad.

Former AFL player Karmichael Hunt

Bob Dwyer has called for Karmichael Hunt (pic) to be fast-tracked into the Wallabies squad. (AAP)

Karmichael Hunt's Queensland Reds debut is still a week away but Bob Dwyer has called for the code hopper to be fast-tracked into the Wallabies squad.

The former Brisbane Bronco has already enjoyed a meteoric rise in union, earning the Queensland vice-captaincy four months after his arrival at the Super Rugby club.

He plays his first game in Queensland's opening trial against Melbourne Rebels in Cairns on January 31.

But ex-national coach Dwyer reckoned Hunt had already warranted selection in a Wallabies' pre-Rugby Championship extended squad ahead of the World Cup.

The 1991 World Cup-winning mentor admitted his suggestion to inject the former Gold Coast Sun into the Wallabies "straight away" would raise eyebrows.

But he believed the Wallabies had nothing to lose.

"He is a hugely talented athlete and I would bring him in to see how he goes," Dwyer told AAP.

"It would be saying `we value your ability as a sportsman'.

"There's no time to be lost.

"Others might complain that he hasn't done enough but if he is good enough you can't do it too soon.

"I would put him in straight away."

The Rugby Championship kicks off in July and has been shortened to just three official rounds this year due to the World Cup.

Hunt has made every post a winner since arriving at the Reds following a four-year stint at AFL club Gold Coast Suns.

The budding Reds fullback was last week named vice-captain along with Wallabies lock Rob Simmons under new skipper James Slipper.

Even the 28-year-old Hunt was surprised.

"I didn't see it coming. I was pretty shocked to be honest," he said at the time.

"I think it is probably a nod to what I have done in the past but there is a lot of history to create for me."

Hunt has only previously played rugby at Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar School and at French club Biarritz pre-Suns in 2010.


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