"I guess that put me in a little bit more of a relaxing mode but, this time with the Titans, I still need to offer them a lot more and I think, this time, I will take advantage of this opportunity.
"I am still going to work hard and hopefully (push) for a longer one."
Hurrell said he felt blessed to be at the Titans, where he had become somewhat of a cult hero.
"Just all around the club, everyone is really just so positive," he said.
"Even if it is a bad game, they're still bringing the positives out of you so I guess that kind of pushed me forward and made me happy."
Hurrell said he was nervous about playing alongside fellow Kiwi Kevin Proctor for the first time in Saturday night's season opener.
New co-captain Proctor will make his first appearance in Gold Coast colours against the Sydney Roosters.
"Proctor has been in the game for a while - he's a legend of the game," Hurrell said.
"I'm still kind of starstruck to run around next to him - obviously, he is a Kiwi star player and, to play right next to him, it's an honour for me.
"I'm just looking forward to it and excited to hopefully get an offload off him and score a try."
- AAP