Hunt was fined $2500 but did not have a conviction recorded after pleading guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court in March to possessing cocaine during an end-of-season drug and alcohol binge before joining the Reds last year. He was also fined $30,000 by the ARU and suspended for six weeks, and was stripped of the Reds' vice captaincy.

Both the QRU and ARU issued firm "no comment" responses to a report in News Ltd papers on Sunday that published what appeared to be excerpts of Hunt's written testimony provided to Queensland law enforcement as part of a deal to have more serious supply charges dropped at the time.

The excerpts implicate several unnamed AFL players from the Gold Coast Suns in joining Hunt in using cocaine, and one unnamed, high profile NRL player, in supplying the 28-year-old with the contact number of a Gold Coast drug dealer.

It is understood both the QRU and ARU were aware of the extent of Hunt's drug use at the time of his court appearance and were not surprised by any of the detail contained in the report on Sunday.

The QRU, in particular, staunchly defended their decision not to terminate Hunt's $600,000-a-year contract as a result of his arrest and subsequent guilty plea, pointing to Hunt's co-operation and remorsefulness and his willingness to be open about the episode.

"Each individual will have their own perspective and opinion on this issue and this specific case based on their personal life experience," QRU boss Jim Carmichael said at the time.

"In arriving at these penalties we have all been acutely mindful of our responsibilities to sport and the wider community, as well as the long-term interests of the game, our stakeholders and our fans.

"However, major professional sport in Australia also regards the use of illicit substances as a welfare issue in the first instance. Karmichael has shown significant contrition and remorse throughout this process and rugby is now applying the rationale in its illicit drugs policy to ensure Karmichael receives the appropriate education and rehabilitation in advance of a return to the rugby field."

Hunt is undergoing counselling as a result of the episode and has spoken at length about the impact of that episode on his career and family.

He returned to the field for the Reds in early April and was named in the Wallabies wider training group at the end of the regular Super Rugby season. There is strong speculation he will be included in a final 34- or 35-man squad Test coach Michael Cheika names this Thursday.