Hurrell hat-trick hands Warriors win
A three-try haul to hulking rookie centre Konrad Hurrell has lifted New Zealand into the NRL top eight with a 32-14 win over an injury-ravaged Gold Coast at Skilled Park.
But the 20-year-old’s night was soured when he left the field midway through the second half with an ankle injury after falling awkwardly in a tackle.
Hurrell was unstoppable on the right edge as he completely outplayed his opposite number Jamal Idris in his 12th NRL match to surge to outright third on the tryscorers list with 12 in his debut season.
And it took him less than two minutes to get his first try of the night with five-eighth James Maloney splitting Jamal Idris and Aidan Sezer with ease after just 100 seconds to put the 100kg wrecking ball over.
In the shadows of halftime Hurrell showed brute force to drag three Gold Coast defenders over the line to score. He then sailed over in the right corner in the 46th minute before leaving the field 15 minutes later.
The win was enough for the Warriors to leapfrog the Wests Tigers and haul the 2011 grand finalists into eighth spot.
After Hurrell’s opening try the Titans wrested back the ascendancy to lead 14-4 after 22 minutes.
Without Origin stars Greg Bird, Nate Myles and Ashley Harrison, a three-try blitz gave the Titans a chance at stealing the match with Beau Champion, Kevin Gordon and David Mead racing over in a 10 minute period.
Mead’s effort was especially eye-catching, with the winger only alerting his teammates that he would be playing on game day following the death of his father in Papua New Guinea during the week.
He planted the ball in the right corner with his entire body in the air just before being pushed into touch.
But the double strike from Hurrell either side of the halftime mark handed the lead back to the Warriors which they never relinquished.
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- NRL, Rugby League
July 8th 2012 @ 9:10am
Spiritfree said | July 8th 2012 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Konrad Hurrell has got to be one of the most astonishing players in the NRL right now. The way he shoves defenders out of the way as he burrows through holes that weren’t even there is incredible – and a joy to watch for this Warriors supporter!
July 8th 2012 @ 11:01am
oikee said | July 8th 2012 @ 11:01am | Report comment
I dont think the game has ever seen the likes of this kid Hurrell, he is unreal and his strength is just amazing. Plus he has speed.
You just think of what he will be like in 5 years time, sensational.
He has only played 2 years of league, you just cant praise him enough, what a find, what a magic kid.
Tongan Hurricane.
What did Warren Smith call out, “Unstoppable” !.
I picked the Warriors to win the comp, i am sticking fast. Even though me Bronx look good, i dont think they can go all the way this year, a few injuries might hold them back.
Mattelino Packer and Lillyman are up with the best front row rotation in the comp. Moon doggy, looking good, now.
July 8th 2012 @ 1:52pm
Bearfax said | July 8th 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Gee this Auckland side are a paradox. I’m no supporter, but they must more than most teams drive supporters crazy. They’ve got and had a semi-final quality team and potential premiership squad for years but their inconsistency is heart breaking
July 9th 2012 @ 10:15am
Pogo said | July 9th 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
For those of us who supported the warriors through the 90s this is no worries, at least we have a chance of making the finals.
July 8th 2012 @ 2:26pm
Eddie said | July 8th 2012 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Try witnessing brain bending skills at crucial times combined with mind numbing mistakes at crucial times Bearfax-the lot of the Warriors supporter!
July 8th 2012 @ 6:15pm
The Barry said | July 8th 2012 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
Hurrell = fast, strong and importantly low centre of gravity so he’s hard to knock over. This is twice in one day but I agree with Oikee again – when he finishes developing he will be sensational, dare I say Big Mal like ?
July 8th 2012 @ 7:34pm
D Maaga said | July 8th 2012 @ 7:34pm | Report comment
and there are more of those talented players in the nz school rugby union comp.
July 9th 2012 @ 8:48am
oikee said | July 9th 2012 @ 8:48am | Report comment
What, you kidding me right. Surely this kid is a once in a lifetime player. I have not seen anyone like him running around.
If their was more just like him, they would be signed to every club in the comp.
I have never seen this body type before. Big Mal come the closest, he is from the Solomons i think.
He looks like a tonker truck, maybe Lomu is close to his build, but i think Lomu is much taller.
July 9th 2012 @ 9:15am
Spiritfree said | July 9th 2012 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Yes, Meninga is from the Solomons. Lomu is 6’5, Hurrell 6’0. 125kg vs. 100kg, or so it says, but I reckon Hurrell is heavier now. Wikipedia info.
I hope Hurrell’s ankle is good for Friday!
July 9th 2012 @ 10:18am
Pogo said | July 9th 2012 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Maybe they’re not all as good as hurrell but there are plenty of talented kids floating round. Can someone sign Robbie Fruean to league please.
July 9th 2012 @ 11:03am
oikee said | July 9th 2012 @ 11:03am | Report comment
You do realise that every NRL club has scouts in NZ and most other places. Even the kid from the Broncos, Whitechurch is from Western Australia.
Some NRL scouts just got back from the South Africa Union junior comp, they have a list of South African juniors to sign up.
I just read about it in this weeks league mag.
It is why NZ union is crnaky, because rugby league is now looking at players in the schools where playing league is frowned upon.
The problem they have is Rugby League under 20 comp is now a huge part of the rugby league NRL calender, and it is growing bigger and bigger, year by year showcasing junior talent. If your any good, or want to be noticed, then the under 20′s is a must for kids.
Plus they are coming through like a production line. Only on the weekend the whole Warriors backline was Warrior under 20 players.
It is huge this comp, and it will become more important to the game. They already have started the Origin under 20 game this year. Young Edrick Lee was in this game, he is still only 20.
He might make the under 20 finals this year.
Hurrell, under 20 grand final winner last year.
The list goes on and on.
Their is a kid in the under 20 Titans , he came from Darwin. The dummy half.
July 9th 2012 @ 11:24am
Pogo said | July 9th 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
“You do realise that every NRL club has scouts in NZ and most other places.”
Noooo, I’ve been living under a rock.
Point was, that there are plenty more where that came from. If they’re good they’ll be in RU 1stXV competition. That’s why every NRL club has scouts in NZ, as you say.
Not sure what you’re arguing about to be honest.
July 9th 2012 @ 11:43am
oikee said | July 9th 2012 @ 11:43am | Report comment
Yes, oh yes if they are any good of course they are already marked for the first 15.
What i am saying is if that kid is not going to get paid the type of money league can offer, would he not be thinking about giving league a go.
Like Hurrell and Slaimankel have done now, and others.
Slaimankel is already a marked kid with a few NRL clubs, and Hurrell would be right up their with Sonny Bill type money i would think.
Like i said, Jennings is on 700 thousand next year, Coote i think is on as much or more, both are young kids really.
Union cant offer young players the type of money league can, league brings kids through faster, and identify talent alot quicker.
You can see my point.
I was just thinking about Ben Teo who got his first crack at Origin this year, If he became a 10 year player at Origin level, he could earn 1.5 million dollars over the next 10 years, just from origin games, probably more because he will be a origin player, this increases your value at club level, same as All_black players . Origin again has alot more players, 2 teams of 18 to 20 players in each state.
Lockyer was earning 1.2 million at his peak.
Remember, we are still talking about old money, when the new TV deal comes in, this goes into a whole new ballpark.
Wages could double over 5 years. Rugby league now has some of Australias smartest running the game.
July 8th 2012 @ 8:22pm
Alpha Male said | July 8th 2012 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
It looks like Konrad Hurrell and that young winger from the Raiders Edrick Lee have arrived. When do the Sydney teams start the poaching raids.
July 8th 2012 @ 8:41pm
Sylvester said | July 8th 2012 @ 8:41pm | Report comment
Must-have for all Warriors supporters? Health insurance.
It’s an 80-minute heart attack every week
July 9th 2012 @ 8:35am
Crosscoder said | July 9th 2012 @ 8:35am | Report comment
He has seized the opportunity to play rugby league with both hands,was a try scoring freak in the u20s now doing the same with the big boys.
Another player with natural gifts I enjoy watching.
Although gladIi am not a Warrior’s supporter,each week not knowing whether the real Warriors(unbeatable) will come out to play.
When Johnson,Locke,Hurrell put on the afterburners look out.
July 9th 2012 @ 8:54am
oikee said | July 9th 2012 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Yes CC, and i really think Locke is a speed freak. This kid can motor.
They will have to let that Fish guy go, he is a fullback as well, along with Slymankel. These kids are both super talents and have got to get into a NRL clubs. ]
The Warriors cant let Locke or this Hurrell kid go, no way.
The Fish dude is a freak as well. His speed is like lightning.
Slymankel is as strong as a ox, i have seen him throw off frontrowers. His family are all weightlifters i think.
July 9th 2012 @ 9:11am
Spiritfree said | July 9th 2012 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Slaimankel nearly did that to score a try on Saturday. I’d like to see him carry on in the No.5 jersey, but he’s only going to have one more match to show himself there before Manu returns, which per the Warriors website will be round 20.
Fisiiahi has incredible speed, he’s easily faster than Locke, who is pretty fast himself. But I’ve hardly seen Fish use his speed.