NRL 2016: Konrad Hurrell and Chris McQueen injured in Gold Coast Titans loss to Parramatta Eels

KONRAD Hurrell’s Titans debut ended in pain as the Gold Coast lost a couple of big names and posted more errors than points in going down to Parramatta.

Titans player Konrad Hurell in hot pursuit of Eels player Michael Jennings.

KONRAD Hurrell’s Titans debut ended in pain as the Gold Coast missed a golden opportunity to move within a whisker of the NRL’s top four in Darwin.

The Titans fell 22-12 to Parramatta, losing Hurrell (calf) and Chris McQueen (concussion) in steamy conditions which saw them post more errors than points.

Gold Coast had an opportunity to effectively move into fifth place on the ladder given the Eels could lose 12 competition points for salary cap breaches.

Instead the Titans could drop out of the top eight by Sunday, such is the tight nature of the NRL’s finals contenders.

Clint Gutherson and Michael Jennings of the Eels celebrate Michael Gordon scoring a try.

It was the ninth day of the Gold Coast’s road trip to Perth and Darwin and despite losing McQueen in just the fourth minute, the Titans burst out to an 8-nil lead.

They were unable to build on that though, making nine first half errors which sapped them of crucial energy in the tough conditions at TIO Stadium.

“It was a good start. Maybe it was too good,” Titans coach Neil Henry said.

“It was pretty simple, they held the ball and we didn’t. It’s fairly warm and we did a lot of defensive work in that first 40 minutes.

“We ran out of energy to attack when we did get a few sets.

“It’s been a long trip. It would have been nice to cap it off with some points.”

VIDEO: Hurrell knocks mate out of game

VIDEO: French’s rib-tickling wipe-out try

Ex-Eels hooker Nathan Peats didn’t get to celebrate against the club that cut him to become salary cap compliant and it was also a tough night for Warriors recruit Hurrell, whose troublesome calf only lasted 60 minutes.

“It’s going to take time for Koni,” Henry said.

“He didn’t have too many quality touches. He didn’t get much room to move.

“He tightened up at the back end of the game with the calf problem. He would have liked to have seen a bit more ball.”

Winger Anthony Don got the Gold Coast off to a flyer when he received a sublime cut-out pass from Ashley Taylor and the duo combined again to put Agnatius Paasi over for an 8-nil lead.

The Eels were denied two tries by The Bunker after having five consecutive sets camped on the Gold Coast’s line, however the Titans’ 60 per cent completion rate kept inviting them back into the contest.

Eels flyers Bevan French and Michael Gordon scored within five minutes to give Parramatta an unlikely 12-8 lead at break.

Greg Bird fends off Eels player Daniel Alvaro.

Eels pocket rocket Kaysa Pritchard scored after Hurrell left the field, making it 20-8, and Gordon extended the lead to 22-8 with a crucial penalty goal.

Don scored his second but it was too late for the Titans to pull out another great escape and they will now turn their focus to bouncing back against battling Manly at Cbus Super Stadium next Monday.

PARRAMATTA 22 (B French M Gordon K Pritchard tries M Gordon 5 goals) bt GOLD COAST 12 (A Don 2 A Paasi tries) at TIO Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris Butler. Crowd: 7,722.

Originally published as NRL 2016: Konrad Hurrell and Chris McQueen injured in Gold Coast Titans loss to Parramatta Eels