Ex-Titans gun in for nightmare

ON Saturday, Brian Kelly will be back at Cbus Super Stadium with a dangerous “Hurrellcane” headed straight for him.

Kelly played his junior footy at the Ballina Seagulls before lining up for the Gold Coast in under-20s. An off-season move to Manly has paid dividends, opening the door for him to play in all 10 NRL games this year and make his representative debut for NSW Country this month.

His return to the Titans’ home field will fall on his 21st birthday – but he won’t be doing any celebrating for 80 minutes if opposite number Konrad Hurrell has it his way.

Hurrell said he had barely crossed paths with Kelly during their time together at the Titans but remembers what it is like to be an excited young gun and knows from video footage the rising Sea Eagle is no slouch.

“He’s pretty strong for his size. He has got good footwork,” he said.

His plan to deal with that? Charge at him all game.

“That will probably be part of my game, just targeting him, keep going at his face and hopefully somehow he will give up,” Hurrell said.

Hurrell says his troublesome ankle has responded well to treatment.

– CONNOR O’BRIEN