Sport
15 May, 2025
Fletcher Hunt to make NRL debut against Eels
Warren-raised rugby league star Fletcher Hunt will make his National Rugby League debut for Newcastle Knights at just 19 years of age on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Hunt has been selected on a wing for Newcastle in their round 11 NRL home clash against Parramatta at McDonald Jones Stadium.
He will wear jersey number five (5) against the Eels.
It caps a meteoric rise for the talented utility back who only finished Year 12 at Warren Central School at the end of 2023.
Linking with the Newcastle for the 2024 season, he has come through the Knights’ SG Ball (under-19s), Jersey Flegg (under-21s) systems and has played two NRL pre-season trials and nine NSW Cup (reserve grade) games this season before being handed his promotion to NRL in a competition match this week to replace powerhouse outside back Greg Marzhew (knee injury).
Hunt played junior rugby league with the Warren and District Junior Bulldogs between under-sevens to under-12s before linking up with the Nyngan Tigers between under-13s and under-18s, making his regional first grade debut in the Peter McDonald Premiership for Nyngan in 2023.
He has also represented Far West Academy of Sport, Western Rams and NSW Combined High Schools.
While for many Knights fans east of the dividing range the club being selected to go to Las Vegas to open the 2026 NRL season and Dane Gagai’s 300th match have taken centre stage, in Warren and Nyngan, the only thing people have been talking about regarding Newcastle is Fletcher Hunt’s debut.
His hometown of Warren and also the Nyngan community that played a key role in his rugby league journey are both buzzing.
It is anticipated more than 100 people from Warren and Nyngan will travel to Newcastle to watch Hunt play on Friday night.
“It was very emotional,” Fletcher’s mother Erin Hunt said of his selection.
“I was crying … because he has worked so hard for this.
“He called us just after he’d had the meeting with (Newcastle Knights coach) Adam O’Brien … we didn’t expect it at all, massive achievement.”
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