Konrad Hurrell has shouldered the blame for the infamous sex tape fiasco - even though it was a "mate" who released it into the public arena.
Speaking for the first time about the incident, Hurrell was contrite and hugely apologetic as he reflected on the past week. He also scotchedrumours about a possible move to Chiefs, saying he "just wanted to play league".
"It's been pretty hard," said Hurrell as he sat, slightly hunched, beside his locker after his side's 54-12 win over the Raiders last night. "It was my fault what happened. I need to learn from that and, when it comes to next time, I will think more before I act."
Hurrell said the tape was leaked by a friend's friend ("It was my mate and he sent it to someone else and that person put it up"), but he has yet to speak to the perpetrator.
"It was my fault first for sending it to him. I don't want to make a big drama about it. I need to learn from it and hopefully - well no, not hopefully - it won't happen again."
The Warriors centre also admitted his anguish over the fallout for Shortland St actress Teuila Blakely.
"She has been [unfairly treated] - it wasn't her fault," Hurrell said. "We were just mucking around and it was my fault. I put her in a bad situation so hopefully it will just die out and I will try my best to make her feel better. It wasn't right what I did.
"She has been through a lot and I have been trying to help her out and that is what I need to do now. I know it's not going to be easy for her. I also need to apologise to her and her family for [giving] her a bad name. Hopefully she will be okay soon."
Hurrell had another reason for performing last night - his mother Fatafehi was in the stands, watching him play live for the first time. "I'm glad my mum came at the right time," said Hurrell.
"I wanted to play well for my family and also with Teuila's family out there."
Hurrell also dismissed recent rugby speculation as "just rumours".
"I just want to play league and I am still trying to improve in the game of league," said Hurrell.
Hurrell was immense last night, running for 216m and almost single-handedly destroying the Raiders' left edge defence with 12 tackle busts and three linebreaks
In the seventh minute, he set the tone, running 70m to score. It was brutal as he left Raiders' defenders scattered on the turf and carried Antony Milford across the line like a gnat on a gnu.
