Rugby league and AFL tend to plough straight through a crisis but for the more conservative rugby supporter base, accepting Hunt back into the fold took a little more convincing. Now the former Brisbane Bronco stands just over a week away from a potential Test debut against England on June 11.

Hunt has credited Cheika with being a voice of understanding during his turmoil, while the Wallaby coach makes no apologies for not taking a harder line when many were demanding Hunt be shown the door from the Queensland Reds.

"I just told the truth. Things go wrong sometimes. Forgiveness is also a very Christian value too. It's not always that you've got to be number one son all the time. I certainly know I'm forgiving my kids all the time for driving me mad," Cheika said.

"He acknowledges he made a mistake. So why wouldn't you help? It's logic to try to help guys get over errors they make. We do that every day technically, and that's what we're trying to do in life.

"Part of the growth of this team is about being better people as well. We don't want them all holding hands singing We are the World walking down the street. But to help a guy who has made a mistake, who has been in trouble, I think we should be doing more of it."