What Saints want from Konrad Hurrell’s spell at Bradford

admin | June 12, 2025 | Uncategorized | No Comments

KONRAD Hurrell’s loan spell at high-flying Championship side Bradford Bulls will give the powerhouse centre an opportunity to grab valuable match minutes after a disrupted start to the 2025.

The 33-year-old former Tongan test centre has not played a Super League game for Saints for nearly 12 months after suffering a significant neck injury which required surgery.

Although he started in Saints’ Challenge Cup game at amateurs West Hull in February, he was subsequently sent out to Halifax on dual reg where he picked up a leg injury that sidelined him for several weeks.

He did return to action with Swinton, Saints’ League 1 dual registration partners, but the option to play at a division above has arisen with the ambitious Bulls under former GB boss Brian Noble.

Coach Paul Wellens explained: “Bradford were looking to strengthen their options in the backline and we decided that Konrad will go on an initial two week loan but then with the ability to keep extending that week-by-week.
“Provided Konrad goes there and does the right thing there should be some consistent game time there for him.

“After the initial two-week period we do have the ability to call him back.”

With Saints losing centre Mark Percival, on top of the injuries to full back Jack Welsby and wing Lewis Murphy, they will again be challenged in the backline.

It is probable that Harry Robertson and Deon Cross will be centres this week and they still have centre/wing options with Owen Dagnall, Jon Bennison and Dayon Sambou all available.

The three-quarter line is set to be bolstered by the imminent return of experienced NRL wing Kyle Feldt.

But if Hurrell can get himself back to the level to make the sort of impact he had on the team on his arrival then he could still be an asset for the remainder of this year.

That challenge is thrown out to the powerhouse centre, who last year signed a 12-month contract.

“Konrad needs to play, and play at good level, to build some confidence,” Wellens said.

“Bradford are a good side in the Championship and are doing really well and are strong.

“It is a good move for Konrad at this point where he is at and he gets to play for a really good, well-supported club with high expectations and high standards and coached by Brian Noble who is a wise old head in the game of rugby league.

“I think Brian will help Konrad also.”

The latest loan is part of a process to get Hurrell back up to speed in order to challenge for a first team place for this season – and is not a one-way ticket out.

Wellens said: “Early on in the year when we placed him on dual reg with Halifax it was with a view to getting him fit to re-enter our team.

“He did have a setback and picked up a calf injury which knocked him back a bit, but we are almost starting that process again.

“Konrad is in a much better physical condition than he was at the start of the year.

“But his challenge is to be strong on both sides of the ball, be the really effective ball carrier that we know he can be but also defensively have an appetite for the work there.”