Konrad Hurrell stars for Warriors in hard-fought victory over Penrith Panthers

BLOCKBUSTING centre Konrad Hurrell scored two tries as the Warriors continued their good patch of form with a win over high-flying Penrith.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 29: Konrad Hurrell of the Warriors celebrates after scoring a try during the round 16 NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Penrith Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium on June 29, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

BLOCKBUSTING centre Konrad Hurrell scored two tries as the Warriors continued their good patch of form with a 30-20 win over high-flying Penrith in Auckland on Sunday.

The Warriors had to repel a determined challenge by the Panthers in a high-energy clash and victory wasn’t secured until halfback Shaun Johnson scored a trademark intercept try with six minutes to go.

The triumph was the Warriors’ sixth in eight matches and ended the second-placed Panthers’ five-game winning streak.

Feleti Mateo of the Warriors offloads the ball.

The home side made a dominant start and were 6-0 up when Penrith got their first touch of the ball in the sixth minute.

It was Hurrell who got the opening points with a typical effort, powering through the tackles of opposite Jamal Idris and winger Josh Mansour.

Idris, who missed the Panthers’ last three matches to address personal issues, was included in the starting line-up after originally being named for the NSW Cup curtain-raiser.

He went on to have an entertaining match-up with Hurrell.

Shaun Johnson of the Warriors celebrates after scoring.

The Warriors went further in front in the 12th minute when a slick backline move put winger Manu Vatuvei over.

Penrith were also 12-0 down early on at Mt Smart Stadium last year before coming back to win.

They again mounted a comeback, with halves Peter Wallace and Jamie Soward influential in guiding them around as they began to monopolise possession.

An expansive game plan and an ability to keep the ball alive produced tries in the space of four minutes to Soward and Mansour.

Nigel Plum of the Panthers charges forward.

The Panthers took the lead just before halftime, Wallace’s pinpoint kick into the in-goal pounced on by fullback Matt Moylan.

But Wallace lost his playmaking partner at the break, Soward failing to come back out after suffering a leg injury in a tackle.

The Warriors struck back through skipper Simon Mannering, with Johnson landing his third conversion for an 18-16 lead.

Jamie Soward of the Panthers charges forward.

Hurrell completed his brace midway through the second spell off an in-goal mistake by Moylan.

Moylan rebounded from his error four minutes later with an offload to send livewire hooker James Segeyaro over the line and make it a four-point ball game.

However, Johnson’s intercept of a Segeyaro pass 50 metres out settled the contest.

Originally published as Konrad Hurrell stars for Warriors in hard-fought victory over Penrith Panthers