This had to happen. Konrad Hurrell has left an indelible mark on the Warriors in his four years at the club - and will rival the likes of Hitro Okesene for cult status at Mt Smart for years to come. But the things that plague his career are the things the Warriors can no longer afford to be connected with. At his best, Hurrell is near unstoppable. Getting the best out of Hurrell is far from an exact science though. I personally never cared about his Twitter and Instagram activity, but Hurrell's certainly fallen into a Krisnan Inu like position - unbridled talent but the unshakable perception he could be trying harder. His defence has been often criticised and privately many of his team mates didn't trust him to get it right, which has a ripple effect through the defensive line. I remember when Andrew McFadden first dropped Hurrell off the back of his first game in charge - against the Bulldogs in 2014. The Warriors lost by one point and it was a vastly improved showing, Hurrell among the try scorers with a few eye catching moments. But he was dropped, causing quite the stir. McFadden said at the time that standards had to be set for being fully committed, so I went back and watched the tape again. Josh Morris grabbed the loose ball about 90 metres out and took off. Hurrell turned and chased, but gave up the ghost very early. Would he have stopped him? Not sure. Should he have tried? Absolutely. Focus and consistency is what the Warriors crave, even Hurrell's most loyal fans would acknowledge those aren't his strong suits. Konrad Hurell is not a reserve grade player, he belongs in the NRL. But it just couldn't be at the Warriors. I don't blame McFadden for not picking him. If the trust is gone, would you put your career in that person's hands? What Hurrell needs is a fresh start at a new club where he has to prove himself - it's the kick in the pants he needs to become the weapon he should be. A move to Australia also brings with it the chance to cash in on his off-field personality that's so lambasted here. I expect more regular appearances on the Footy show and the like. Though I am weary of the potential distractions on the Gold Coast. Even if the Warriors do part ways with McFadden at the end of the season, Hurrell's been erratic under four different coaches, that can't be overlooked. Will he come back to haunt the Warriors down the line? Probably. But he is unlikely to be more of a headache in opposition colours than he has been in the Warriors ranks of late.
Newshub
