Konrad Hurrell scores hat-trick as Warriors beat Titans 32-14 to march into NRL top eight

ROOKIE centre Konrad Hurrell bagged the first hat-trick of his short career as the Warriors beat the Titans 32-14 to march into the top eight.

IT HAD been billed as the million dollar mismatch, but it took less than one hour's work for rookie Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell to silence the Gold Coast's rich recruit Jamal Idris at Skilled Park last night.

Hurrell bagged the first tryscoring hat-trick of his 12-game NRL career before he limped off the field in the 59th minute with an apparent right ankle injury.

It was a tremendous barnstorming performance by the 20-year-old Tongan and it helped set the stage as the Warriors overcame a 14-4 deficit to claim a 32-14 round 18 victory and march into the top eight.

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The Titans were missing key forward quartet Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison and Luke Bailey and desperately needed their $2 million man Idris to stand tall and lead the way with so many stars missing.

However a dismal second half cruelled their chances.

"We really botched the game ourselves," Titans coach John Cartwright said.

"That was the worst I have ever seen the second half - I think it was down to 30 per cent completions.

"There's no excuses, hopefully it's a one off."

Gallery: Top snaps from the game

With Kiwis clearly dominating the 17,134-strong crowd on Gold Coast turf, the Titans could not even rely upon parochial hometown support to help carry them to an important victory.

The crowd had barely found their seats before Hurrell crossed, a poor defensive read by rookie five-eighth Aidan Sezer letting his opposite James Maloney stroll through on the Warriors first set and the boom centre completed the play with less than two minutes gone on the clock.

"He is a good young talent. It's good for our game when young talent like that comes through," Warriors coach Brian McClennan said of Hurrell, who left the field early.

"We could have got him back on but we kept him off as a precaution. Touch wood he stays healthy for the rest of the season."

David Mead

The Titans fought their way back into the game, with Sezer making amends with some sublime cut-out passes to capitalise on the condensed Warriors defence as the Gold Coast raced in for three tries in a 10 minute blitz.

Centre Beau Champion scored in the 12th minute to open his side's account, but his night ended in misery with a repeat of the ankle injury in the second half and it could potentially end his season prematurely.

Idris collected a Kevin Locke fumble in the 16th minute which then resulted in Kevin Gordon's try, while fellow winger David Mead produced the highlight of the night with a superb one-handed try in the corner to give his side a 16-14 halftime lead.

The Titans now sit two wins outside the top eight, their finals chances closer to being written off.

WARRIORS 32 (K Hurrell 3 S Johnson K Locke B Matulino tries J Maloney 4 goals) bt GOLD COAST 14 (B Champion K Gordon D Mead tries S Prince goal) at Skilled Park. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Phil Haines. Crowd: 17,134.