Konrad Hurrell is one of those personalities that you want fans outside of the sport to know about.
A smiling battering ram of a centre, the 31-year old Tongan is pursuing another big season with club and country, having become as popular at champions St Helens as he was at previous side Leeds.
“When I signed with Saints 90 per cent of the fans were like ‘why the fuck have we signed this player?!” he says with a laugh, and the kind of self-depreciating humour that has made his Instagram account a must-visit for daily mood boosts.
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“I didn’t think they would have wanted to sign me. The club took a massive gamble on me so I just shut my mouth, came in and trained hard.”
Hurrell starred with Tonga on their run to to World Cup quarter-finals in the autumn, after a season which he admits saw him get back on track.
A cult hero at Leeds Rhinos, the former NRL star had struggled badly for form and fitness in 2021, and a move therefore to the champions came as a major shock. The key player in the move was head coach Kristian Woolf - also the Tonga boss - who knew if he could get the centre back fit, focused and firing, he could prove the X-factor in Saints’ charge back to Old Trafford.
And so it proved, with Hurrell emerging from squad player to guaranteed starter, and marking their fourth successive Grand Final win with a try - fittingly against the Rhinos.
“I already had a relationship with Woolfy from Tonga and I always played my best for him. He knew my potential. He told me to work my ass off and get on their bench.
“Woolfy was the one who put me on track. I respect him and his family and what he has done for me. But he’s buggered off to the NRL now!“
Like a growing number of players frustrated by lack of clarity over the international calendar, Hurrell has also thrown his weight behind calls for a refreshed and fuller international schedule. He cites the success of the World Cup experience as proof of the direction in which rugby league needs to be heading, and reveals talks are already underway for a potential series against England.
“I want more international rugby league. It is big, it was dying out the last couple of years because of fricking Covid, so it’s good to bring it back.
“Samoa beating England was great to see and hopefully we see more and more of that. Woolfy has already spoken to the boys about Tonga playing England this year. I think the boys are keen, everyone was already saying yes when Woolfy tossed it up. Playing more games will grow the game and the team, so it’s not just Australia, England and New Zealand.
And now a Champion! 🏆
Ladies and gentlemen, Konrad Hurrell. 🤣
“Up until last year the proudest moment of my career was playing for Tonga, then I won Super League which was my main dream, my main goal before I retired.
“But still the proudest moments are wearing the red jersey for Tonga. Even though we came up short in the World Cup I’m proud of the boys for flying over and I wish to be a part of that again.
“For us Polynesians it’s good to see the little nation doing well. It’s good to have Samoa, us and Fiji doing well. It hurt losing to Samoa but we were pushing them to go all the way and they almost did. All the Samoans are coming out now so it is good to see everyone is proud of where they come from.”
Back at Saints, Hurrell says it already feels like business as usual despite a new man in charge in club legend Wellens. The former Great Britain full-back replaces the departed Woolf and has set about guiding the side to an unprecedented fifth title in a row.
For players like Hurrell on one-year contracts, the hard work starts all over again.
“I will have to work twice as hard to get on Wello’s team. He’s the big dog now and it has been good under him the last few months.
“The Saints fans see that I’m all-in. I don’t come in half-arsed. Hearing them pushed me to keep going on the track
“I’m in the same situation as last year, fighting for that spot, but I’m good here at Saints and they have been great to me. Players end up being here for over 20 years because of how it is. If you are winning every week then why would you want to leave?“
Hurrell believes the current Saints dynasty is down to the longevity of players like legendary hooker James Roby, along with others enjoying ten-year stints with the club including Mark Percival, Alex Walmsley and in all likelihood Morgan Knowles.
“This is why this team is so great. With Roby I just don’t get how he does it. He is still England’s number one hooker and should have been in the World Cup. To play for 20 years at that level I just don’t get it.
“It is funny seeing him at training, he looks like an old man and then suddenly he puts his boots on. That’s why he is the Goat, he is St Helens. I won’t be able to run when I’m 37!”.
Saints begin their season with the World Club Challenge against NRL champions Penrith Panthers, live on Channel 4 on Saturday February 18th.
