Konrad Hurrell


Konileti "Konrad" Hurrell, also known by the nickname of "Hurrellicane"', is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League and Tonga at international level.
He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL and played for World All Stars side in 2016.

Early years

Hurrell was born in Tofoa, Tonga, and moved to New Zealand in late 2009 on a rugby union scholarship with Auckland Grammar School.
He played for their first XV, earning vice captain in his second year, and represented Auckland Secondary Schools as a centre and second five-eighth. Hurrell was also a member of the athletics team and was New Zealand's national champion in weightlifting for the open weight category in 2010. Hurrell switched to rugby league in 2011. In 2011 he played for the Junior Warriors in the Toyota Cup. In this, his first year of playing rugby league, he scored 22 tries in 21 games and was named in the competition's Team of the Year. At the end of 2011 Hurrell was selected for the Junior Kiwis but was ineligible due to not having New Zealand Residency.

Playing career

2012

In 2012, Hurrell was promoted into the first grade squad by new coach Brian McClennan and played in all three trial matches. In February he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2013 season. Hurrell made his NRL debut for the Warriors in Round 1 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, impressing off the bench in the Warriors 26-20 loss at Eden Park. In round 2, Hurrell scored his first NRL career in the 36-20 victory over the Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium. In Round 18 in the 32-14 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium, Hurrell scored his first hat-trick in the NRL, which made it twelve tries from twelve games at that stage of the season. On 15 July, he re-signed with the Warriors until the end of 2015. On the day before the Warriors Round 24 game, Hurrell was dropped from the first grade team to the Auckland Vulcans NSW Cup team, following a poor defensive display in the Warriors embarrassing 12-52 loss against the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium. Hurrell, along with Shaun Johnson and Manu Vatuvei, finished the Warriors season as joint top try-scorer with 12 tries from 17 matches.

2013

Hurrell finished the Warriors season with 20 matches and 13 tries. In 2012, the Tonga-born Hurrell had signed a letter of intent with the New Zealand Rugby League, stating that he wanted to represent the New Zealand national rugby league team after qualifying on a residency basis. Despite this, he was named in the Tongan World Cup squad, playing in 3 matches and scoring a try against the Cook Islands in Tonga's 22-16 win.

2014

In February, Hurrell played in the Warriors inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines. He was overlooked for Round 1 and 2 matches, instead playing in the NSW Cup, before returning for the Round 3 match against the North Queensland Cowboys, scoring a try off the interchange bench. On 8 May 2014, Hurrell was fined $5,000 over a social media sex tape involving Shortland Street actress Teuila Blakely. Hurrell was later allowed to play the Round 9 match against the Canberra Raiders at Eden Park, scoring a try in the Warriors 54-12 win. Hurrell finished off the Warriors 2014 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring 12 tries. On 9 September, Hurrell was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team Four Nations train-on squad, but didn't make the final 24-man squad.

2015

On 18 March, Hurrell re-signed with the Warriors to the end of the 2018 season. On 2 May 2015, Hurrell played for Tonga in the 2015 Polynesian Cup against Samoa, playing at in their 18-16 loss at Cbus Super Stadium. In Round 9 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Hurrell was placed on report after he kneed Sharks forward Anthony Tupou in the face while taking a hit-up, leaving Tupou with a quadruple fracture of his jaw in the Warriors 20-16 win at Remondis Stadium. Tupou later had surgery that required four metal plates, screws and wiring. Hurrell was charged with a grade three dangerous contact, taking an early plea and was suspended for 3 matches. Hurrell later returned in Round 14 against the Sydney Roosters in the Warriors 25-21 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. Hurrell finished the 2015 NRL season with him playing in 12 matches and scoring 4 tries for the Warriors.

2016

On 29 January, Hurrell was named in the Warriors 2016 Auckland Nines squad. On 13 February, he played for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars in the 2016 All Stars match, playing off the interchange bench and scoring a try in the World All Stars' 12-8 win at Suncorp Stadium.
On 25 May, the Warriors announced that they had released him from the remainder of his contract effective immediately. The next day, he signed a contract with the Gold Coast Titans for the rest of the season and 2017.

2017

After making a significant impact to the Titans on his arrival mid 2016, Hurrell signed a contract extension until the end of 2019. Hurrell finished the regular season at the Titans winning The Members Most Valuable Player as well as the Preston Award for his ongoing work within the community.
Hurrell then competed in the 2017 World Cup representing his home country, Tonga. He was an integral part of the stellar team, scoring multiple tries, which created history in their successful World Cup campaign, only losing a controversial 2 point defeat by England in the semi-finals.

2018

Hurrell begins the season with scoring the game winning try against the Canberra Raiders at Cbus Stadium on the Gold Coast. Hurrell plays his 100th NRL game in a loss against the St George Dragons in Toowoomba, QLD. Hurrell was selected to play for Tonga in the Pacific Test in July versing Samoa, resulting in a win and try for the centre. After a dip in form in the beginning of 2018, Hurrell played several games for the Tweed Heads Seagulls where he regained form and played out the rest of the season with the Gold Coast Titans.
On the 12th of October, it was announced that Hurrell requested a release from the final year in his contract with the Titans, to sign as a Marquee Player for the Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League for the next 3 years.

2019

Hurrell has so far had a stellar first year in the English Super League, becoming a crowd favourite and scoring a total of 14 tries in the season which makes him the second highest try scorer for the year at the club. In April, while versing Hull Kingston Rovers, Hurrell scored 4 tries which surpassed his personal record of 3 tries in a single game.
Hurrell won the Fans Player of the Year Award at the Presentation Night for the Leeds Rhinos on Monday, 9th of October.