Titans centre Konrad Hurrell considers playing for Tonga ^Featured

Hurrell will face his former club the Warriors for the first time on Sunday when the Titans head across the ditch searching for their second win of the season.

The bulldozing centre was released by the Warriors midway through last season to join the Titans on the condition he would not play against them in Auckland a few weeks later.

There are no restrictions on Hurrell facing the Warriors this season and he is raring to go despite a lingering ankle problem which saw him placed in a moon boot early this week.

The Gold Coast’s preparations for the crucial game were thrown into disarray yesterday when the club’s training fields were flooded.

They will try to train Friday morning and in Auckland on Saturday to prepare for the game against the equally desperate Warriors, who also have one win this year and are coming off a woeful loss to the Dragons.

Hurrell, 25, has resurrected his career on the Gold Coast after falling out of favour with then-Warriors coach Andrew McFadden, who was sacked during the off-season and replaced by Stephen Kearney.

Under new international eligibility rules, a player who is not selected for a major nation (Australia, New Zealand and England) can represent a lower-tier nation such as Tonga.

A World Cup berth for New Zealand is within Hurrell’s reach, but he is ready to commit to the country of his birth in order to help Tonga become an international force.

“At the moment I’m still going for Tonga,” Hurrell said. “I will probably commit to Tonga and stay with Tonga.

“They gave me an opportunity when I had a really bad season (in 2015). I didn’t play much NRL and they still wanted to take me.

“We’re trying to do better stuff for Tonga, to get new sponsors. If we start winning games maybe we will get better sponsors and more money for the players to want to play for Tonga.

“A couple of the Kiwis can play for Tonga. It’s up to the individual where they want to go.”

Hurrell waged a riveting battle with rival centre Solomone Kata on Gold Coast last season which was overshadowed by Jarryd Hayne’s return to the NRL.

Hurrell said he held no ill-feelings towards the club where he played 71 games.

“I’ve moved on, I’m with the Titans now,” Hurrell said.

“That’s all I’m worried about. I don’t have any feelings towards the Warriors. I’m just focusing on playing for the Titans who gave me another opportunity to recreate my career.

“(Kata) is a great young player who is still developing. It’s his 50th game and he will be looking forward to it.

“He has played for the Kiwis and I haven’t. I’m looking forward to the battle.’’

-Mercury