The 24-year-old, who was signed by the Suns in July 2009 before running out for his first game in the VFL last year, played both rival codes ahead of his conversion to Australian Rules.
He said the main difference between the codes was concerned with how the newest players coped with their transition into the big leagues.
"As a whole, the group is definitely a lot more mature and they go about their business I guess in a more professional mannerism," he told 3AW on Tuesday night.
"In saying that, that still exists in rugby league and rugby union; I guess the numbers aren't so high whereas with the group of AFL boys, everyone at the club is professional right from the 17-year-olds up until your Gary Abletts.
"With rugby league, sometimes you've got some young kids that are just coming out and they don't have that professional attitude yet, and they'll pick it up over the years and their career.
"I've been quite surprised at the young kids we have in our team. They just go about their business like they've been playing footy for 20 years in a professional manner.
"It's a quite a breath of fresh air and it's good to see."
Hunt said Ablett, who has not been sighted on the playing field this pre-season, had accelerated his training load and looked set to play in the Suns' first game in round two against Carlton.
"He's definitely been training the house down of late so I'm guessing he's going to be right to go come round two," he said.
"He's had a few niggling injuries over the last couple of months, which has kept him out of our main squad training sessions, but I saw him train yesterday and he was on fire. He looks ready to go."
Hunt isn't the only NRL convert looking to turn heads in the AFL with Israel Folau on Greater Western Sydney's list.
The Suns' backman said he had run into the fellow former Brisbane Bronco on a few occasions since he signed with the Giants and had offered some advice.
"He's got quite a long time until he's going to be able to play AFL footy so for the most part I've just been telling him to enjoy it," he said.
"He's been picking my brain and asking me how things are going up here and what I've been going through and what's been the most difficult.
"I've shared with him my thoughts and given him some tips. As I mentioned before, he's got a long time to go and he's got a great coaching staff to help him develop his game."
Earlier, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou told 3AW the league was proud of where the Suns were currently at and the interest their pre-season had generated.
"It's just amazing that first game on Foxtel between the Gold Coast Suns, Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans played averaged 316,000 [viewers], which was the highest rating program this year; much higher than any of our home-and-away games last year," he said.
"There is an interest in the Gold Coast and GWS, and the way they're tracking and progressing is really first class.
"They're going to be competitive and we couldn't have asked for a better preparation for them."
The Suns announced a naming rights partner for Carrara on Tuesday with the venue to be known as Metricon Stadium.
Karmichael Hunt is a $106,400 defender in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.
