Konrad Hurrell doesn’t have to worry about his running style, says his Warriors NRL teammate Ryan Hoffman – but he might want to start worrying about his visa situation.
Hurrell on Monday was named as a late inclusion to join Hoffman in the NRL All Stars team, ahead of Saturday’s pre-season showpiece against the Indigenous side.
But the 24-year-old has been left stranded across the ditch after discovering his visa to enter Australia has expired.
Monday was a public holiday in New Zealand, since Waitangi Day fell on a Saturday this year, meaning Hurrell – believed to travel on a Tongan passport – wasn’t able to get a new visa immediately.
“I’m not quite sure how they’re going at the embassy,” said Hoffman.
“Just thank goodness it’s not round one.”
It caps off a dramatic few days for Hurrell, who escaped punishment for knocking out Manly prop Jake Trbojevic with his knee as he attempted to tackle him during the NRL Auckland Nines.
Hurrell was involved in a similar incident last year, and was banned for three games after breaking the jaw of Cronulla second-rower Anthony Tupou.
Hoffman played down the Trbojevic collision as an unavoidable “rugby league accident” and said Hurrell shouldn’t have to change his running technique as a result.
“We want to protect our players as much as possible but, in rugby league, unfortunately you get accidents,” he said.
“That’s what happened the other day.
“I’m happy he’s feeling better. I don’t think Konrad has too much to worry about.
“If he starts collecting people with the point of his knee, maybe, but that wasn’t the case of the situation.”