Rico Gear didn’t place too many expectations on the lanky Kiwi kid who wandered into Bull Sharks rugby training late in the summer.
The tousled hair and tan gave Hunter Robinson away as a surfer and Gear’s first take was that he was a new student just looking for a social game of footy.
But there was something familiar about Hunter that reminded the former All Black of an old teammate Mark Robinson from the Canterbury Crusaders.
“We were a bit unsure about Hunter at the beginning of the year, he was a bit of an unknown,” Gear, the Bond Bull Sharks Colts coach said.
“But the more we got to see him at training and through pre-season games we could see he had a lot of promise, especially with his speed which is something we don't have a lot of.
“Funnily enough, I played rugby with Hunter's dad and once I realised who he was, the expectations were quite high.”
And the 19-year-old from Auckland hasn’t disappointed, becoming a try scoring threat on the wing in Colts 1.
Robinson's journey to Bond University was fuelled by a desire for personal growth and a thirst for new challenges.
After a brief stint studying engineering at the University of Canterbury, he realised his true passion lay elsewhere.
His sights are set on pursuing an MBA at the prestigious University of Cambridge and to eventually land his dream career as a sports agent.
He is determined to take every step necessary to get to where he wants to be, starting with rugby and an undergraduate degree at Bond University.
Drawn by Bond's reputation and the allure of the Gold Coast lifestyle, he made the bold decision to cross the ditch and pursue a Bachelor of Law degree.
"I wanted to move to surf all year round, enjoy the lifestyle and play rugby,” he said.
“But also, Bond has the reputation of being one of the best Uni's in Australia, so coming over to do law was a great addition.”
Robinson's athletic prowess extends beyond the rugby pitch.
He secured two silver medals in sprints and flags, as well as a bronze in the board event at New Zealand’s Surf Life Saving Nationals.
Remarkably, these achievements were accomplished without specialised training, a testament to his raw talent and unwavering dedication.
"I've always ran a bit with rugby, so I showed I was fast enough to do it, but I mainly focus on water events," Robinson said.
Robinson's arrival at Bond University has been warmly embraced by the Bull Sharks rugby program, where he has found a home among like-minded athletes and a supportive coaching staff.
"He's fitting in nicely, he's got a great character and is an awesome influence on the group,” Gear said.
“He applies himself really well in trainings. He has the characteristics we are after here at Bond.”