After a strong performance in the NRL versus Indigienous All Stars match, powerful New Zealand Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell looked set for a strong 2016 season.
However on the Tuesday in the lead-up to the first round, Hurrell found out he had not been named in the Warriors 17 to take on the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.
Seemingly uninjured, it came as a shock that Hurrell continued to miss first-grade football week in and week out.
Meanwhile, former Cronulla Sharks reserve grader Blake Ayshford was being thrown a lifeline by Andrew McFadden.
Placing even more doubt on Hurrell’s position was his dropping, along with Manu Vatuvei, Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson, Sam Lisone and Albert Vete, from the Warriors Round 9 clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons.
This arose after the group were found to have gone out on the town following their side’s 42-0 thrashing from Melbourne at AAMI Park.
Fast forward a month from this incident and the Gold Coast Titans signed the powerhouse centre.
Hurrell made his Gold Coast debut in the side’s Round 14 clash with the Parramatta Eels, a game in which he lost no supporters during the tough loss in Darwin.
Question marks hovered over his fitness, after being out of the NRL for so long, but Hurrell showed he’s still got what it takes, defending well, making some strong runs, and nearly running down young speedster Bevan French to save a try.
He is a fantastic buy for the Titans, who are currently lingering around the top eight, hoping to play finals footy come September. Their new recruit can only bolster their chances, especially if he can reclaim the ferocious form that made him a local favourite at the Warriors.
Is Hurrell a big loss to the Warriors? Is he a big pick-up for the Titans? Can he lead the Gold Coast to their first finals series since 2010?
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