Konrad Hurrell back in Titans’ good books with workaholic attitude

KONRAD Hurrell’s future at the Titans seems secure, with Garth Brennan praising the centre’s efforts to work his way back into the senior side in the back half of the year.

KONRAD Hurrell’s future at the Titans seems secure, with Garth Brennan praising the centre’s efforts to work his way back into the senior side in the back half of the year.

Rumours circulated earlier this year the centre could be jettisoned by the Titans with a year left on his contract.

But his determination to regain form — combined with Dale Copley’s season-ending hamstring injury — allowed him to return from an Intrust Super Cup stint to play the last nine games of the season in the NRL.

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Konrad Hurrell of the Titans is tackled by Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys during the Round 25 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the North Queensland Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast. Photo: AAP

He finished with a team-high 141 run metres in Saturday’s narrow loss to the Cowboys, making a line break and five tackle breaks and looks to have erased most of the damaging errors that had crept into his game early in the year.

Hurrell was happy with his efforts after a tumultuous season.

“Obviously it was a tough start for myself,” he said.

“I love these fellas and I would do anything to prove to them that I am meant to be in the team, so I just worked my hardest and got to finish the year strong.”

Coach Garth Brennan has been unafraid to drop players in his first year in charge, regardless of their profiles.

But the unabashed Hurrell fan said he had been glad to see the Tongan international regain form.

“I think Koni’s been pretty good for the back end of the year,” Brennan said.

“He went back and did his tough time at Tweed and he’s worked hard and come back and he’s certainly having a crack with the carry of the football.

“I said when I first got here that I was always a Koni Hurrell fan and there’s a lot up upside to him.

Konrad Hurrell has been a fan favourite since joining the Titans from the Warriors in 2016. Photo: AAP

“He’s gone back, he worked hard, he had some issues with his hands and some errors but he’s been back and he hasn’t had any real dramas with his hands.

“Defensively he had some concerns as well but he works very hard and he’s very determined and I’m happy to see a player go back and work hard and get his opportunity and really grab it with both hands.”