Titan builds silent redemption story
IF ACTIONS speak louder than words then former Titans captain Kevin Proctor’s efforts are shouting his remorse for leaving his team undermanned during his recent suspension.
Proctor was banned by the Titans after going on a drunken bender following the Anzac Test in May, his suspension hurting a team already hit by an unprecedented injury crisis.
But since his return against the Rabbitohs last month, Proctor has been outstanding, playing every minute of the four matches he has been involved in and averaging 106m and 31 tackles as the Titans surge back into finals contention.
His efforts have not escaped his teammates either.
Barnstorming centre Konrad Hurrell said Proctor was an inspiration.
“It’s good to have him back. Obviously we missed him in the last couple of weeks but he knows what he’s capable of and that’s the type of player he is, he’s a leader and he leads by example on the field,” Hurrell said.
“He does’t talk much. Obviously off field, that’s his own business but when he comes to training, he’s on even at training, he’s the best trainer on the field he puts up his hand to carrry and then on (defence) as well.”
A senior member of the New Zealand team before his suspension from that side, Proctor is an inspiration to the several young Polynesian players in the Titans squad, including Hurrell.
“I didn’t really know him but I know how he plays and I got really excited when I heard he was signing,” Hurrell said.
“For him to come in here was a big thing. We need that leadership, it’s a pretty young team.
“We need those sort of play- ers for us to look up to and for him to come in and play his heart out has been good.”
While injury and suspension prevented the Titans from forming strong combinations early in the season, Hurrell said his right side of the field now had a strong understanding, something that was a boon heading into the last seven rounds.
“I get to run around outside Kevin Proctor and Ash Taylor and they’re killing it at the moment and just making me look good,” Hurrell said.
“We’ve been having the same right side for the last couple of weeks and every week we’re improving, so it’s good.”
Hurrell is feeding off the energy of his teammates and enjoying his football like never before.
“It’s so good. Probably before I took it for granted but you’ve just got to enjoy it,” he said.
“It’s my childhood dream to play here and to not enjoy it (would be a shame). I’m just loving it at the moment.
“It’s good after three wins in a row and we’re feeding off the energy and knowing that if we stick to our game plan and bring our A game, we’ll be unstoppable.”