Saints will spin everything the way they want it to be read.

They are the RFL's darlings after all.

Hurrell spent most of his time injured and when he played his defence was a total liability.

GREAT in his first season but quickly worked out (like Parcell, Cuthbertson etc)

If anyone pays him anything close to marquee nowadays, they are absolutely nuts. Newman is a country mile better, as is Broadbent.

I think that's just Saints trying to spin what appears to be a somewhat unpopular signing. The two vs one year deal is decisive. And if they want to stick him in the second row good luck to them.

Has Hurrell officially been confirmed by Saints yet?

No but I suspect Hurrell requested for it not to be announced until his Leeds contract actually expires (is that 1st Nov?)

Thats pure speculation mind!

Thing is, nothing says "we love you and want you to stay" more than a massive salary cut. When someone feels rejected they might well choose any other option.

I suspect it may well have been a 2-year versus 1-year situation, I doubt we'll have wanted to tie up the OS spot on a player with his injury record.

I've seen a few people talk about Konrad in the second row - he's absolutely not a back rower IMO. His ball security is a problem and his fitness would struggle I think. He can put a big hit on in D but you need to be precise and consistent in the pack. I just don't see it working. For different reasons, Liam Sutcliffe is never a back rower either.

Having said all this we'll be crying if Konnie runs through us next year off the back of a better structured and balanced side, on his day he is a real handful.

Leeds found Hurrell's true role - impact second row forward as close to the middle as possible - sadly it was two years too late

Didn't Hurrell get Dream Team selection at centre in his first season?

To be fair the only player the club has let go that I'm not sure about in retrospect was Paul McShane. Really can't think of many others, we tend to get it right.

Don't recall him having a decent game in the second row.

First two seasons i think he made the Dream team

I don’t even recall him playing there.

It is a real shame for both Konrad and Callum. Both players might have expected a long and successful career at Leeds had injuries/stuff been different.

I love Koni, he’s been great fun, but he’s never a back rower in a million years. He’s got too much ball error and not enough conditioning or footwork to make enough effective tackles

KaeruJim wrote:
It is a real shame for both Konrad and Callum. Both players might have expected a long and successful career at Leeds had injuries/stuff been different.
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I know it’s all personal choice/preference etc. I admire your support of McClelland and I take on board his injuries but I doubt even if fit he would ever have had a long term future as a Rhino.
As I have said before good luck to the lad and I really hope he gets opportunities at Cas.

In the play off game against Wigan!!

As I say I don't recall him playing there, which probably shows how good he was in that position. I'm a fan of Hurrell, I think his game has been ruined buy Injury this year, but IMO he is not a Second Rower at all, if Saints can get him fit enough and willing to put the hard work in then fair play to them.

Perhaps Konrad wants to win something and with better structures and go forward at Saints he is going to get far more ball and in one to one situations at centre where they are short of numbers , doubt he will play 2nd row very often .
Yes the 2 year contract against the 1 year Leeds offered will also have been enticing and gives him chance of even more trophies

Konrad has won something with the Rhinos

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The rumour at Saints is that he’s already signed for another team in 2023 and we are a stop gap for him, as a chance to work with Woolf before the World Cup.

It’s a really strange signing, I have no idea where he fits in either in the centres or in the back row at Saints, as he’s not likely to displace the the incumbents, but seems crazy to sign him to mainly play reserves as hell run riot. Fitness is obviously going to be a major question mark here.

If he gets back to the body shape he had in the NRL, would there not be question marks over the conditioning team at Leeds? If he doesn’t there’ll be questions on what Saints were considering when signing him.

Yep, it's a strange one on saints' part. Doesn't seem in keeping with the kind of player they normally sign.

Have Saints formally announced his signing yet?

If not Wonder if Toulouse might be at alternative

Agreed, if Saints can get his fitness back to where he was when he was in the NRL then there are big questions regarding Leeds conditioning team. I'm hoping Saints are unsuccessful too and it is solely down to Hurrell.