FORMER Super League star Shaun Lunt is now happily retired.
Following spells in Super League with Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR, the hooker made a move to Batley Bulldogs ahead of the 2020 Championship season.
However, due to injury, Lunt didn’t play on, but he will be fondly remembered at each Super League club he spent time with.
At Huddersfield, the 35-year-old helped the Giants to the Challenge Cup Final in 2009, he won the Grand Final with Leeds in 2012 and then the livewire helped bring Hull KR back to Super League in 2017.
That being said, whilst impressing with the Giants throughout his six seasons at the West Yorkshire club, Lunt was the target of one NRL club – and a contract was almost signed before it fell through.
“I agreed a one-year deal with Parramatta Eels for the 2014 season but Huddersfield wanted a fee for me at the time and in rugby league you don’t have many people buying or spending money,” Lunt told League Express.
“It would have been great to go and it didn’t happen, but such is life.”
Lunt also explained how one Super League club did show interest, though an offer was never forthcoming.
“I also spoke to Catalans at one point, but I never had a deal on the table. I had a deal on the table at Parramatta but never at Catalans. There were just talks going on there, but there was no other Super League team really.”
Lunt began his career with Castleford Tigers, registering four appearances for the club back in 2005, but moved quickly back to his native Cumbria to join Workington Town in 2006.
Three seasons and 74 appearances, 57 tries and 26 goals later and Lunt was snapped up by the ever-improving Huddersfield ahead of the 2009 Super League season.
From there, the hooker went from strength to strength, becoming one of the most underrated number nines in the top flight, being rewarded with an England cap in 2010.
Lunt spent 2012 on loan with Leeds where he won the Grand Final as well as 2015 with Hull KR before permanently moving to Craven Park in 2016.
The hooker spent four seasons with the Robins, scoring 28 tries in 73 appearances.
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