St Helens boss offers update on Konrad Hurrell future

St Helens boss Paul Wellens has provided an update on the future of much-loved centre Konrad Hurrell who is off contract at the end of the season.

Hurrell is among the highest-profile names in Super League not to have a deal confirmed for the 2025 season but that could change soon.

Head coach Paul Wellens has confirmed that he is “desperate” to keep the former Leeds Rhinos man beyond the current season and has admitted that conversations need to happen sooner rather than later.

Wellens confirmed that when he addressed the press ahead of the Red Vee’s final game of the regular season on Friday night when they take on Leigh Leopards.

Hurrell will miss that game, as he has many of the recent matches after suffering a serious neck injury that required surgery and Wellens has now detailed when the Tongan will find out more about his recovery.

He revealed: “I think it’s November when he has his next specialist consultation, but post-surgery, they’re very confident that he’s making the best progress possible.”

“Desperate to keep him” – Saints eager to tie down fan favourite

That prompted the question of when contract talks will be held with the Hurrell-cane with the St Helens boss confirming that those discussions are slated to start “very soon”.

“We’re going to sit down with Konrad very soon,” Wellens confirmed.

“He’s an important part of our club. He’s been an important part of this team for a number of years now. He’s such a very well-liked member of the group. That’s why I’m desperate to keep him around the team.

“Even though he’s injured and he can’t play for the rest of the year, he’s such a positive influence on the group as well. We’re going to have a sit-down with Konrad soon and make some decisions between ourselves.”

He would underline the need for that decision to happen sooner rather than later, claiming that the uncertainty is not fair on the 33-year-old.

“My gut feeling is that he’s a player I’d love to keep around, but we’ll have those discussions moving forward. But what we can’t do is wait until November, that’s not fair on Konrad. We need to make a definitive decision as soon as possible.

Hurrell wants to stay at St Helens

Amidst such a concerning injury and at the age he is at, talks of retirement had swirled around but Paul Wellens has confirmed that he’s in doubt that Hurrell wants to play on in 2025, and that he’d be keen for it to be with St Helens.

He explained: “Obviously he wanted to get the surgery done and see how he feels, but he feels, again, after discussions with the surgeon, that everything’s gone really well, and should Konrad want to play again, then he will absolutely be able to.

“That is Konrad’s desire, to play again next year. Konrad obviously would love that to be with us, so that’s why we need to have those discussions sooner rather than later so that Konrad can make a strong decision around his future because he’s someone that obviously, as I’ve mentioned, I’ve got a huge amount of respect for.

“It’d be great to keep to give him a round, but like I said, no definitive decision has been made yet, but we need to make that call very soon.”

Hurrell was among the big names on the off-contract list and that will have surely drawn attention and whilst Wellens failed to confirm if any clubs had been interested, he argued that he’d have been on the phone if the shoe was on the other foot.

Asked if there had been interest from Super League rivals, the St Helens boss said: “I’m not sure. I would imagine there would be because I know that if I was coaching elsewhere and Konrad Hurrell was available, I’d certainly be looking at it.

“I’ve had no discussions with or around other teams, coaching and all that. I sit here pretty confident in the fact that Konrad very much wants to remain a Saints player next year.”