In our weekly wrap-up in Super League, a former NRL star joins the Leeds while a former Rhino is forced into rehab by his new club.
Hurrell heads to Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos this week announced Gold Coast Titans centre Konrad Hurrell would join the club on a 3-year deal.
Hurrell has a moderate amount of NRL experience, scoring 55 tries in 116 games. That’s a solid ratio for the former Tongan International.
At his best, Hurrell is devastating out wide with his strength and pace. A good acquisition for the Rhinos.
Thank you for everything @GCTitans members fans 🙌🏻🙌🏻 can’t wait to meet you all @leedsrhinos #oua pic.twitter.com/ZaONVk1pQw
— konrad hurrell (@konmanhurrell) October 18, 2018
Toronto healthy additions to the ‘pack
Toronto Wolfpack, unlike other clubs, announced six new signings in one go this week.
Gadwin Springer (Castleford), Bodene Thompson (Warrington) and Jon Wilkin (St Helens), Joe Mellor (Widnes) and Tom Olbison (Widnes) were confirmed as signings.
Ricky Leutele was reported to join the Wolfpack in May on a two-year deal which was in doubt with Toronto’s loss to London Broncos in the Million Pound game. Leutele is the pick of the six signings named.
There’s several changes to the club’s roster with Cory Patterson and Rich Whiting retiring. They are yet to re-sign the likes of Ryan Brierley or Ashton Sims for 2019. Hull KR are interesting in signing Brieley for 2019.
Zak Hardaker receives rugby league lifeline
Wigan Warriors are willing to stick by troubled Super League star Zak Hardaker despite a recent DUI conviction.
It was announced last week that the former Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers fullback will undergo rehabilitation.
“Hardaker will immediately begin a process of professional and personal rehabilitation with the Sporting Chance Clinic and will also be monitored closely by the Club before entering a daily programme that will include volunteer work, work experience, mentoring days and wellbeing meetings with Club’s Player Welfare Manager, Steve McCormack.”, said the Warriors press release.
Hardaker’s controversial career includes homophobic comments made at referee James Child in 2014, an alleged assault in 2015 and testing positive to a banned substance which ended his career at Cas’ on 2017 Grand Final eve.
Assistant Coach heads down under
Michael Monaghan has finished up with Wakefield Trinity. Monaghan’s wife has been offered a role back in Australia.
With the coaching merry-go-round happening in the National Rugby League, the former Manly Sea Eagle, Canberra Raider and Warrington Wolves utility may continue his involvement in the game down under.
Monaghan made 192 appearances in Super League in a seven year stint with the Wolves.
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/10/20/report-australia-kangaroos-34-16-mate-maa-tonga/
