NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / League / NRL

NRL: Hurrell out but Vatuvei returns for Warriors

APNZ
10 Jul, 2012 06:47 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images
Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Konrad Hurrell thinks he just needs to "harden up", but the Warriors won't take any risks and the blockbusting centre will miss Friday night's trip to take on the Broncos in Brisbane.

The 20-year-old has become one of the most feared players in the NRL after scoring 12 tries in as many games this season. His hat-trick against the Gold Coast last weekend took his tally to 11 from his last seven games and he now sits third on the NRL's try-scoring list.

He's also among the top-10 in the competition for most line breaks and tackle breaks even though he missed four games when dropped to the Vulcans and is in his rookie season.

But Hurrell injured his foot in the 32-14 defeat of the Titans on Saturday night, a recurrence of the injury he sustained in last year's Toyota Cup final, and has been in a moon boot since Sunday.

"It's not so bad at the moment," said Hurrell, speaking before an appointment with team doctor John Mayhew. "I think I can play. I just need to harden up and play with the boys."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Warriors coaching and medical staff, however, won't let him and his place in the side will be taken by utility Lewis Brown who is familiar with the role having played 13 games in the centres last season.

Hurrell's absence is softened somewhat by the return of wing Manu Vatuvei, who has recovered well from knee surgery a little over a fortnight ago and replaces Omar Slaimankhel, who was named in a five-man bench.

Joining Slaimankhel there is back rower Sebastine Ikahihifo, who appeared in the 2010 and 2011 NYC grand final triumphs and who has been a Vulcans regular in the New South Wales Cup this year.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Micheal Luck, Jerome Ropati, Sam Rapira, Alehana Mara and Glen Fisiiahi are all missing through injury.

"Kon's not going to be right this week but we're hopeful he'll miss just this week and will be back for our home game against Newcastle," coach Brian McClennan said.

"Lewie [Brown] knows the position well. He played there for most of the second half after Kon went off on Saturday night and we know he'll do a really good job for us against the Broncos.

"While we've lost Kon, it's a big boost to have Manu back. He's such an important part of our team for so many reasons. He's been training terrifically and it's great having his experience out there."

Discover more

Warriors

NRL: Warriors' finals push has a familiar feeling

06 Jul 05:30 PM
Warriors

NRL: Hurricane Hurrell inspires Warriors win

07 Jul 11:16 AM
Warriors

NRL: Warriors back in the top eight

07 Jul 05:30 PM
Warriors

NRL: Hurricane Hurrell blows through Gold Coast

08 Jul 06:41 AM

The selection of both Brown and Vatuvei will add considerable age and experience to a youthful backline which, in the last three matches, had an average age of just 21.71 and just 33 games a player.

The Broncos sit fourth on the NRL ladder after 10 wins in their 16 matches and, although beaten 26-12 by Cronulla at home in their last outing, will have all of their State of Origin players back.

The Warriors go in with some momentum, having won their last two, but their record of eight wins, eight defeats illustrates their inability to push on. They haven't been able to string more than consecutive wins together in 2012 and will come up against a formidable outfit on Friday.

"They are powerful, well directed around the park and they have that attacking threat right throughout," McClennan said. "They have been tipped by plenty to be right in there at the business end of the season and it's easy to see that."

Warriors team to play the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Friday (9.30pm): Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Lewis Brown, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Omar Slaimankhel, Sione Lousi, Jacob Lillyman, Steve Rapira, Sebastine Ikahihifo.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from NRL

NRL
|Updated

Newcastle Knights star reportedly considering shock switch to rugby union

Sport

New Warriors halfback Tanah Boyd makes a splash

Watch
Warriors

The Warriors show out at home against the Tigers

Watch

Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

How McIlroy plans to conquer Portrush pressure in British Open bid
Golf

How McIlroy plans to conquer Portrush pressure in British Open bid

Brilliant Stokes leads England to thrilling test win over India
Cricket

Brilliant Stokes leads England to thrilling test win over India

Trump ‘very, very unhappy’ with Putin over ongoing war, threatening tariffs at 100%
World

Trump ‘very, very unhappy’ with Putin over ongoing war, threatening tariffs at 100%

Herald Hat-trick sports quiz: July 15
Sport

Herald Hat-trick sports quiz: July 15

'May as well make it a big one': Kiwi Olympians off on epic 4500km African charity ride
Hawkes Bay Today

'May as well make it a big one': Kiwi Olympians off on epic 4500km African charity ride

'Surprising' lack of property value growth in Whanganui region
Whanganui Chronicle

'Surprising' lack of property value growth in Whanganui region



Latest from NRL

Newcastle Knights star reportedly considering shock switch to rugby union
NRL
|Updated

Newcastle Knights star reportedly considering shock switch to rugby union

Kalyn Ponga is reportedly exploring other options.

14 Jul 06:15 PM
New Warriors halfback Tanah Boyd makes a splash
Sport

New Warriors halfback Tanah Boyd makes a splash

Watch
14 Jul 05:00 AM
The Warriors show out at home against the Tigers
Warriors

The Warriors show out at home against the Tigers

Watch
13 Jul 06:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search