Coaches tend to shy away from comparing young players to established stars, but in the case of Konrad Hurrell, Brian McClennan really didn't have anywhere else to go.
Having smashed his way through the under-20s competition to the tune of 22 tries and an incredible 268 tackle breaks in just21 games of his first league season, Hurrell turned in an equally eye-popping pre-season to force his way into the Warriors' line-up for tomorrow's season-opener against Manly at Eden Park. As Junior Warriors coach John Ackland said: "He is really hard to tackle - and that is the game."
It is Hurrell's similarity to the game's most unstoppable player, fellow Tongan Manu Vatuvei, that effectively forced McClennan's hand. Vatuvei's ability to gain huge yards on kick returns and yardage sets was a key factor in the Warriors' run to the grand final last year, McClennan said. Hurrell is capable of inflicting the same type of damage.
"Konny has stepped up," said McClennan. "He trains extremely hard and has a good work ethic. There is still a bit of greenness about him but the way he carries a footy he is a threat every time and that creates pressure in itself."
Plucked from Auckland Grammar's First XV and with just one season of junior league under his belt, Hurrell is still very much a novice. While he faces a huge challenge to adjust to the defensive requirements of the top grade, Ackland believes he can quickly adapt.
"He has got a couple of big things going for him," Ackland said. "He is a very good person. He is an intelligent boy. He will get help because of that and he takes on board what he is told. He is in a good environment and I am sure he will progress. He will have his ups and downs like everybody does when they start but there is certainly a lot of hope for him."
The pace of his progression to the big time has surprised many, including Hurrell himself. "I've been dreaming about this moment. I never thought it would be this fast to have a crack at the NRL. To be honest I never thought I would start the first game, but I'm pretty happy to be having a go."
