Konrad Hurrell

[Guvner]

Thoughts on him? Do you think he will stay a centre or his he bound for the back row?

Will he step up to FG?

 

[worier]

He's a rugby convert, only played a hand full of games. He's got great speed, strentgh, and looks to have a good pass and offload. His defence leaves a lot to be desired, a bit too green IMO, It'll be interesting to see how he goes against men who can actually tackle.

 

[Revelation 3:20]

He was worth signing up again, and he'll have to develop develop develop.

 

[Warmess]

Could be good with some development. Still not sold that his style will transfer into fg, where he can't bully his opposition. Worth the re-sign and we'll see how far he can go. Hopefully he's the Likiliki that truly develops and we keep.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Could be good with some development. Still not sold that his style will transfer into fg, where he can't bully his opposition. Worth the re-sign and we'll see how far he can go. Hopefully he's the Likiliki that truly develops and we keep.

He is different to likiliki.
Likiliki liked the contact and always relied on the fend - was more inclined to run into the player.

However Hurrell likes to run through or straight over them.

However problem with both is they dont run good centre lines.
Likiliki just wanted early ball and run around bumping peeps off.

If you watch hurrell all of his breaks are off dummy half runs or powers/hittups.
Wait til he learn how to run good lines etc of halves.

And yes needs to learn defense . . but I see no reason why he cant play first grade some time next year.

 

[devoid]

Yeah, it looks like everyone is thinking the same thing - the guy has got amazing natural ability, but is still learning the game. Definitely worth retaining, but I wouldn't expect to see him in top grade for at least 18 months.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Yeah, it looks like everyone is thinking the same thing - the guy has got amazing natural ability, but is still learning the game. Definitely worth retaining, but I wouldn't expect to see him in top grade for at least 18 months.

I think you over complicating the game a little.

The bloke is physcially ready he is fast, strong as etc.
For sure there some

But there is no reason with a full off season he cant be blooded some time next year.

 

[devoid]

I think you over complicating the game a little.

The bloke is physcially ready he is fast, strong as etc.
For sure there some

But there is no reason with a full off season he cant be blooded some time next year.

Maybe I am - but I see defending from the centres as a pretty tough area that is not only extremely technical, but also reliant on natural instinct - I just think it will take him some time to be capable/competent enough to deal with the level required from a first grader.

 

[Iafeta]

I think one area Konrad will need to work on, which I have no doubt he is capable of, is his lateral defence. A lot of times when he's caught on an inside shoulder with space in front of him or the defence is too compressed and the ball is going to go outside his winger, he does a 360 on the spot and turns around to get back in defence. It leaves his channel exposed. I noticed it a fair few times early against the Knights. He needs to work on his communication and his ability to slide laterally.

His running game is very explosive. I think he could be a genuinely exciting first grade centre. He has great leg drive, and he's built at a good shape, Anthony Watmoughish. He also has a high work rate out of dummy half. Its an underrated attribute of an outside back, John Carlaw, Vinnie Anderson and Henry Fa'afili used to be very good at getting a set moving forward by moving out of dummy half for 5-10 metres, but importantly getting to the centre of the field. Hurrell could do that job and be explosive as well.

 

[MKEB...]

I think one area Konrad will need to work on, which I have no doubt he is capable of, is his lateral defence. A lot of times when he's caught on an inside shoulder with space in front of him or the defence is too compressed and the ball is going to go outside his winger, he does a 360 on the spot and turns around to get back in defence. It leaves his channel exposed. I noticed it a fair few times early against the Knights. He needs to work on his communication and his ability to slide laterally.

His running game is very explosive. I think he could be a genuinely exciting first grade centre. He has great leg drive, and he's built at a good shape, Anthony Watmoughish. He also has a high work rate out of dummy half. Its an underrated attribute of an outside back, John Carlaw, Vinnie Anderson and Henry Fa'afili used to be very good at getting a set moving forward by moving out of dummy half for 5-10 metres, but importantly getting to the centre of the field. Hurrell could do that job and be explosive as well.

well said

 

[ozbash]

he is 3-4 time better player than Likiliki was at the same stage of his developement.

going to go a long way.

 

[JoeD]

Had word from someone who should know that was basically what Iafeta said. He's not yet as good as what people are saying and that it is his defence which lets him down.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Had word from someone who should know that was basically what Iafeta said. He's not yet as good as what people are saying and that it is his defence which lets him down.

Like several other Warriors at Toyota Cup level, they guy's raw physical talents tend to mask a few deficiencies in his game. but those deficiencies are things that are quite expected for someone with his lack of Rugby League experience, whilst his physical attributes are pretty exceptional. Give him another season and with the experience there's no reason he won;t be ready for first grade.

 

[JoeD]

No doubt, it was just interesting to me that Iafeta was nearly word for word on what this other guy said. Other guy's name i almost John Auckland.

 

[Iafeta]

Ackers is doing an amazing job with the NYC team. I dare say he's one of the most strategically important blokes at the club given we rely so heavily on the development pathways nowadays.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Ackers is doing an amazing job with the NYC team. I dare say he's one of the most strategically important blokes at the club given we rely so heavily on the development pathways nowadays.

I dont totally agree.
He is smart man however a little strange.
Well at the very least I do disagree with some decisions.

Like playing Adam Henry at standoff.
When he was probably the best winger and wont cut it at standoff at the higher level.

So in his last year he should be playing exclusively wing.

Toka likiliki - his future is in prop or 2nd row at best.
They have him running at centre/wing some times.

While Hurrell was a hit some of the other rugby blokes are iffy.
I think Fotofili and to a lesser extent Collier who apparently were national junior reps havent converted to league.

Collier has had some injury and is improving.
I think you can find better young league players playing juniors or even at Fox level.

 

[ozbash]

Sam Lousi ?????

 

[Iafeta]

I dont totally agree.
He is smart man however a little strange.
Well at the very least I do disagree with some decisions.

Like playing Adam Henry at standoff.
When he was probably the best winger and wont cut it at standoff at the higher level.

So in his last year he should be playing exclusively wing.

Toka likiliki - his future is in prop or 2nd row at best.
They have him running at centre/wing some times.

While Hurrell was a hit some of the other rugby blokes are iffy.
I think Fotofili and to a lesser extent Collier who apparently were national junior reps havent converted to league.

Collier has had some injury and is improving.
I think you can find better young league players playing juniors or even at Fox level.

Henry's gone ok at five eighth. Sure, he's not an organising five eighth, he has a fair bit of pace and has been running good lines to make a couple of breaks. He's also only there because Tuimavave is out.

Correct, not all the union-ites are totally successful. I too would doubt if Fotofili and Collier can go all the way. I think Collier is improving, but I think he lacks speed and doesn't use his height as well as he could. For NYC standards he is a good goal kicker.

As I understand it the young players have a load of respect for Ackers. Its also nice to see blokes like Johnson, Locke, Fisiiahi, Hurrell, Gavet, Taylor, Matulino and the late Sonny Fai playing within the Warriors. I know thats not all Ackers related, but it used to be a huge topic of conversation on the boards that so many of these types of players ended up coming through the grades elsewhere. The only ones I'm disappointed in recently are Nafe Seluini and Leeson Ah Mau. In terms of the strategic comment, it seems to me that the Warriors are finally being true to their word that they will 'farm' our own backyard, NYC helps them do that, and the job of Ackers to identify and build these guys up is absolutely crucial to our medium-long term success. Tony Iro obviously deserves a hell of a lot of credit for his impact in the initial seasons.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Henry's gone ok at five eighth. Sure, he's not an organising five eighth, he has a fair bit of pace and has been running good lines to make a couple of breaks. He's also only there because Tuimavave is out.

Correct, not all the union-ites are totally successful. I too would doubt if Fotofili and Collier can go all the way. I think Collier is improving, but I think he lacks speed and doesn't use his height as well as he could. For NYC standards he is a good goal kicker.

As I understand it the young players have a load of respect for Ackers. Its also nice to see blokes like Johnson, Locke, Fisiiahi, Hurrell, Gavet, Taylor, Matulino and the late Sonny Fai playing within the Warriors. I know thats not all Ackers related, but it used to be a huge topic of conversation on the boards that so many of these types of players ended up coming through the grades elsewhere. The only ones I'm disappointed in recently are Nafe Seluini and Leeson Ah Mau. In terms of the strategic comment, it seems to me that the Warriors are finally being true to their word that they will 'farm' our own backyard, NYC helps them do that, and the job of Ackers to identify and build these guys up is absolutely crucial to our medium-long term success. Tony Iro obviously deserves a hell of a lot of credit for his impact in the initial seasons.

big fan of henry.
However no help to him playing 6 - any maori outside back reckons they can play standoff even some props.
He only has a 10 more rounds to try and secure a contract etc. it aint gonna be at 6.

They have other halves in the squad which they can use.
Ben Kingi from Pukekohe playing fox for rewa should be given a run with carlos out.

It is easy to attribute this to ackland.
but Bell and Ricky Henry are just as important to the Warriors Development there ones looking at the younger talent etc.

to be blunt - despite their dominance I think the juniors play DUMB football most week.s

Ricky Henry has a good eye for talent and slightly less odball does a good job with juniors also.
However one of the biggest positive things is they are looking at players from the fox memorial - not just junior prima donnas.

 

[Iafeta]

I wouldn't say they play dumb football per se, I would say the standard of NYC compared to senior competitions tends to be less structured and more flambouyant. It would make a final decision on deciding whether a player has a professional career ahead of them quite difficult I would imagine. I would say that there are a few moments of craziness in their games, but I think it may be over-confidence at times.

I agree though that scouting through the Fox Memorial is a massive aspect of it. I'm sure there's a few people here with similar stories to my own. In not a big profile sport in a not a large populated area, I was pushed ahead to senior grade fairly quickly. The whole psyche changes enormously. I felt like a duck out of water, not really knowing how to fit in or how to get assistance where required, feeling almost mentally intimidated. To come through the other side of that at a young age for a player I think is a very good sign that they could cope with the difficulties associated with a professional sports career.