Hurrell hugs it out with Tupou

THE FIRST thing Konrad Hurrell will do when he visits Anthony Tupou on Sunday is give him a big hug.

Hurrell’s suspension for lifting the knees, which resulted in the Cronulla back-rower breaking his jaw last Saturday, meant he was unavailable for Saturday’s 17-13 win over Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium.

But Hurrell travelled across the Tasman to Sydney with the Warriors as a mark of respect to his fellow Tongan international.

‘‘Obviously I feel bad about what happened and I didn’t do it intentionally,’’ Hurrell said.

‘‘I feel sad that I have put him in a situation like that. I just want to come here and show that I’m supporting him.

‘‘He’s a good bloke off the field and I didn’t intentionally mean to do it.

‘‘I’ll come and say hello and probably give him a hug. I can’t do much now but I’m here.’’

Hurrell took the early plea after being charged by the match review committee, resulting in a threeweek ban.

Tupou is unlikely to play again this season after undergoing surgery to insert 16 screws and four metal plates. The injury comes at a difficult time for the former NSW and Australia forward as he is off contract and may not get another chance to press his claims for a new one before it expires.

‘‘I haven’t played with him in the Tongan team, but I have heard a lot about him,’’ Hurrell said.

‘‘He’s been a good role model, a legend of the game. I just want to come and show respect to him, what happened wasn’t something I meant. I feel like shit, to be honest.

‘‘I want to talk to him, tell him I never meant to do it. I’m going to tell him I’ll work on my technique so I don’t do something like that to any other player.’’

Hurrell, who will visit Tupou at home after he was recently discharged from St George private hospital, said he would continue to work hard on his running style.

‘‘Just the knee lift, that’s it, the running isn’t too different to what I’ve been doing,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve just got to work on my technique and get as low as I can.’’

Hurrell said it was difficult viewing the action from the sidelines during his suspension.