Wests Tigers sign Wagga's Tim Hurst
PAMELA WHALEY
05 Jan, 2012 01:00 AM
FOR Wagga teenager Tim Hurst, Southcity coach Daniel Fitzhenry is the gift that keeps on giving.After delivering the Bulls to their first Group Nine premiership in September, the former NRL star picked up the phone to his previous club and mentioned Hurst's profound ability.
Taking Fitzhenry's advice, the Wests Tigers invited the 18-year-old Bulls second-rower to trial for its Toyota Cup squad - and the rest is history.
Recognising his potential, the Tigers offered Hurst a two-year contract for the upcoming season, to which he gladly accepted.
Speaking yesterday, Fitzhenry said Hurst's work ethic and raw talent would have been hard to surpass.
"He's a good young kid, you know, he trains hard and tough so I put through a few phone calls for him and got him a few trials but that was it," he said.
"He did the rest himself.
"Obviously he played well and they could see that potential in him and they've signed him for a few years."
Capping off a year of incredible success including a Group Nine premiership and a Hardy Shield championship with Mater Dei Catholic College, Hurst's NRL ambitions are fast becoming a reality.
Pre-season training with the Tigers is well under way, and Hurst has already made the move to Sydney to begin his rugby league career.
Having been through the same process with the Tigers almost a decade ago, Fitzhenry knows Hurst will need to give the opportunity every ounce of effort.
"The squad is about 30 or 40 kids at the moment so he'll still fighting for his spot but I think he'll give it a good go," Fitzhenry said.
"He played second row for us this year and I think they'll look at him for that once he starts to put on a bit of weight.
"He's a big tall kid he's just got to fill out a bit more and they'll probably have him playing the front row or at lock.
"Because they've signed him for two years means they see his potential."
Hurst joins the long list of rugby league talents recruited from the Riverina for the upcoming season including Jordan Shephard (Melbourne Storm) and Brody Rigg (St George Illawarra).
