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Konrad Hurrell against the Gold Coast Titans - Source: Getty -
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The Warriors side for 2012 contains many familiar faces but one new player tipped for a big future is Konrad Hurrell, the block-busting 20-year old who has graduated to the top grade after one outstanding season with the champion Under 20's team last year.
Hurrell made his top grade debut on the wing in the trial against the Gold Coast Titans last weekend, and after one early slip-up under the bomb he set about his work with great maturity and crossed for a try with one of his first touches of the ball.
This week he lines up in his favoured centre position, inside his hero Manu Vatuvei, who returns to the side after scoring the match-winning try for the NRL All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars last Saturday.
"Manu was my idol so I'm pretty happy to be playing inside him," Hurrell explained after training at the Warriors Mt Smart headquarters.
"I'm pretty confident playing inside Manu because he's a big, strong guy and he talks a lot so I'll follow Manu."
A product of Auckland Grammar's First XV, Hurrell decided to follow his friends who were enjoying the 13-man code.
"All my mates had been playing league so I said to myself, 'I'll have a go' and I came and asked if I can start training with the young boys in development and they said, 'oh yeah, you may as well'," said Hurrell.
"So I started training in October 2010 and made it into the big squad and then into the 20's side."
Hurrell quickly had commentators and fans buzzing with his powerful running game and try scoring ability as he starred week after week for the Junior Warriors, while they steamrolled teams on route to the grand final.
Coach Brian McClennan was full of praise for Hurrell's attitude and commitment to training and was pleased with his efforts in the win over the Titans.
"He had a fair hit-out and he was nice and busy. He did some really good kick-returns for us and got our sets started nice and strong," McLennan said.
"He's a good kid, works really hard and he's an infectious guy around the place and people love having him here and if he keeps working hard he's a chance."
"We just want to give him time and experience as this is just his second year of league but credit to him he's working hard at training every day and he's picking things up quickly".
McClennan believes Hurrell is a good example of the potential of New Zealand's young sportsmen and said the Warriors feel a responsibility to advance his hopes and prospects as much as they can.
"Our job as a club is to help these young kids come through the system. There are some great young kids playing sport in New Zealand and 'Konny' is a great example of what can happen if you work hard."
McClennan felt confident Hurrell would slot in well in the midfield, particularly with a couple of senior boys in Vatuvei and the wide-ranging Feleti Mateo out there to help him.
"Yeah he has Manu and 'Freddy' Mateo is out on that edge too, so it's the Tongan brothers out there and the three of them are all hard to handle," he smiled.
"With Shaun Johnson feeding that side too it's a pretty decent left edge."
The man Hurrell looked up to is excited to be playing alongside him this weekend and explained how his youthful exuberance was rubbing off on his teammates.
"He's really good, he's a bit of a clown," laughed Vatuvei.
"He's pretty 'freshie' but y'know, that's the type of player we like in the team. He makes us laugh and smile every time and helps us enjoy what we do every day," he continued.
"He's a really good player and it just shows that the Under 20's is a really good concept for the game and we can just develop our own players here in NZ."
