Given an opportunity due to injury and suspension, Konrad Hurrell’s form is now keeping him in the St Helens lineup, and those performances are causing Paul Wellens to worry about the Tongan’s contract status.
Konrad Hurrell is one of the most prominent Super League players who will be out of contract at the end of the current season, with the centre’s time in the league slated to expire at the end of 2025.
Hurrell is in his third season with St Helens, having arrived from Leeds ahead of the 2019 season. A fan favourite at Headingley, the relocation to The Totally Wicked Stadium has caused his cult reputation to wane at Leeds but skyrocket with Saints.
The Hurrell-Cane has played in nine of Saints’ eleven Super League games this season and with three tries in his last four and a whopping 203-metre performance against Castleford Tigers last time out, he’s certainly among the hottest off-contract stars in Super League.
As such, St Helens and Paul Wellens have a big decision to make on the 32-year-old.
Speaking after the huge 60-4 win over Castleford Tigers, Paul Wellens told the media that he “absolutely” wants to keep Hurrell for next year should that form continue.
When asked if the Tongan’s future should be with St Helens, the coach replied, “Absolutely, if he continues to play like that. Konrad’s greatest problem has always been keeping himself active and on top of his physical ability.
“When he does it, he’s as efficient as anyone in the competition. What you saw in Konrad tonight is the result of a lot of sacrifices he made during the preseason and early in the season.
According to the St Helens Star, Wellens has disclosed that contract negotiations with Hurrell and others will continue, but the Red Vees’ coach has confessed that “it’s going to be very hard not to keep him around”.
They reported: “We’ve had a lot of chats with a number of players recently, and those conversations will continue with Koni and all of the other players.
“What Konrad needs to understand is if he keeps on working hard, keeps on the right side of his fitness and keeps impacting the games in the way he did on Friday, then it’s going to be very hard not to keep him around.”
Hurrell’s position is a concern for St Helens, which is why, barring his spectacular performances, he is increasingly likely to sign another deal.
They signed Waqa Blake from the NRL ahead to the 2024 season, and he has found success in recent weeks. Blake is the club’s second-highest try scorer in the Super League this season, trailing only Jack Welsby, but much of his success has been on the wing.
If the Saints keep the Fijian, he may move into that position permanently, with Tommy Makinson rumoured to be departing the club and St Helens missing out on successor Tom Davies.
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