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Konrad Hurrell in action for the Warriors - Source: Photosport -
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The Warriors have achieved a huge coup by securing centre Konrad Hurrell - one of the NRL's hottest properties - until the end of the 2015 season.
The 20-year-old Tongan, halfway through only his second season in rugby league, has been one of the NRL's top rookies, his blitzing form netting 12 tries in just 12 appearances, including 11 in his last seven games.
It follows a dazzling introduction to rugby league from schoolboy rugby union last season, when he helped the Vodafone Junior Warriors to a second straight NYC premiership. Scoring two tries in the grand final, he had a total tally of 22 in 21 games.
While disappointed a foot injury kept him out of Friday night's 19th-round battle with the Brisbane Broncos, the ex-Auckland Grammar School First XV star is ecstatic about his long-term future with the Warriors and in rugby league generally.
"I'm really happy and stoked I'm going to be with the Warriors and with the boys for so long," said Hurrell. "I love playing rugby league, and now I just want to play the best footy I can and hopefully I'll be able to stay here even longer.
"My good friend Omar [Slaimankhel] was the one who got me here. He told me he loved the environment, the players and the game, and he said I would too.
"It was hard to make the decision at first, but I'm glad I made the switch. I get the ball so much more than I did in union, and the game is more physical and tougher, I think."
Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell said the success the club had witnessed with Hurrell and Slaimankhel was another signal to young rugby union players about the opportunities available in rugby league.
"As a club, we've shown rugby union players that there's so much they can achieve by coming to the Warriors," he said. "We've had success in identifying Konrad and Omar at school level, and have seen them take to rugby league so well.
"We've got others like them on our books who are developing well and we know there are more out there who could also make it."
With Hurrell off contract at the end of next season, the Warriors were keen to secure him on a long-term basis as soon as possible.
"He's a good boy is Konnie," said Warriors head coach Brian McClennan. "He's been going really well for us from the start of the season and we all know there's even better to come.
"We knew he had real talent, but it was during the pre-season that we really saw he was something extra special. The way these young players have come through our system here at the Warriors is great, and young Konnie has shown such a willingness to work on his game and do all he can to improve every week."
With 12 tries, Hurrell is third on the NRL's try-scoring chart after 18 rounds - he's ranked in the top 10 for line breaks with 11 (along with team-mate Shaun Johnson) and also for tackle breaks (62). Among Warriors players, he ranks second for average metres a game (123), narrowly behind Ben Matulino (125) and ahead of third-placed Manu Vatuvei (111).
Hurrell also reiterated his desire to represent New Zealand.
"My dream used to be about trying to play for the All Blacks, but not now," he said. "All I want to do is to play for the Kiwis, if I get the opportunity."
Hurrell's signing follows confirmation on Friday that prop Jacob Lillyman will be with the Vodafone Warriors until the end of the 2014 season, and the announcement two weeks ago that front rower Ben Matulino and rookie centre Ben Henry had been secured until 2015.