Explosive skill and power mixed with crucial experience.
Hymel Hunt has become an integral figure in the nib Newcastle Knights line-up and has been rewarded for his consistent performances.
The 27-year-old has signed a two-year contract extension tying him to the club until the end of the 2023 season.
A larger-than-life character, ‘H’ has become an influential player in Newcastle over the course of the last three seasons and says he feels right at home in the red and blue.
Hymel Hunt extends Knights deal
“It’s unreal. With the direction the Club’s heading in and how close we are as a squad, I’m excited to extend for the next two years,” Hunt said.
“The Knights are my home. My fiancé and I are settled here.
“I just love the Club and love the footy we are playing as well.”
A popular figure amongst the playing group, Hunt notched his 100th appearance in the NRL recently in the side's win over the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 16.
Looking back to his introduction to the NRL, ‘H’ burst onto the scene with a selection in the former National Youth Competition Team of the Year along with a call-up to the Junior Kangaroos and Queensland Under 20’s in 2013.
He was rewarded with a first-grade debut with the Gold Coast Titans in the same season.
100 NRL Games for Hymel Hunt
Melbourne came calling for Hunt’s signature, where he went onto play another three NRL games over two years.
Searching for regular game-time, the versatile-back headed to South Sydney in 2016 where he established himself in the top grade.
Hymel spent three seasons at the Rabbitohs, including a quality season in 2018, scoring seven tries.
Hunt made the move to the Hunter in 2019 where he has gone onto play 53 games, scoring 20 tries and earned a call-up to the Queensland Maroons squad in 2020.
“I've played most of my career so far at South Sydney and had stepping stones with Melbourne and the Gold Coast,” Hunt said.
“Now I’ve come to the Knights, I feel like it’s my home here.
“Now the contract is all settled, I can focus on playing good footy.”
The Club have shown their intent to keep a hold of Hunt along with the Saifiti brothers.
With a huge back end to the season looming for Newcastle, Hymel says there is plenty to look forward to for the Knights.
“Last year we got to the finals which was good but now we want push on,” Hunt said.
“We want to crack the top four and get to the Grand Final, that is the big goal.
“All the best clubs have got that core group of players and I know we are the right group to take the Club further.”
