NRL: Hurrell back for Warriors

Konrad Hurrell in action for the Warriors earlier this month. Photo / Getty Images

As the Flight of the Conchords would say, it's business time, and the Warriors desperately need to put together a run of results to secure a place in this year's top eight.

Their chances of beating Newcastle this weekend have improved with the inclusion of blockbusting centre Konrad Hurrell, who missed the 10-8 defeat to Brisbane last weekend with a foot injury.

Hurrell has been a revelation in 2012. He has scored 12 tries in 12 games this season, including 11 in his last seven, as he combines a lethal combination of power and pace. That has come on the back of the 22 tries he scored in 21 games for the Junior Warriors last season.

Brisbane utility Alex Glenn last week cited him as the one player they needed to watch in their game with the Warriors but Glenn needn't have worried as Hurrell sat out the game.

The 20-year-old's form has seen him secure a contract extension to the end of the 2015 season and he is one of a number of players who have re-signed with the Warriors as they firm up their future squads. Steve Rapira was the latest to join that list and has committed to the Warriors until the end of 2013.

"We're naturally please to have Konnie available again and it'll be great for him to play in front of our home crowd just a few days after being signed up on a new contract," Warriors coach Brian McClennan said.

"While it's good to have him back our focus is on the need to keep improving. We've done well for long period in a lot of games lately but dropping the two points against the Broncos last week was really tough to take."

Hurrell's return is the only change in the Warriors' side who started against Brisbane. Lewis Brown, who stood in for Hurrell at centre against the Broncos, returns to a five-man bench alongside Sione Lousi, Jacob Lillyman, Steve Rapira and Omar Slaimankhel.

With seven matches to play, the Warriors sit two points out of eighth place on 20 points but only six points covers eight teams ranked from third to 10th. They haven't managed more than consecutive wins all season and have let a number of close games out of their grasp.

Newcastle are 12th but only two points behind the Warriors. They come into the match on the back of an impressive 32-6 mauling of defending champions Manly last weekend.

Warriors side to play Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, on saturday (7.30pm): Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Sione Lousi, Jacob Lillyman, Steve Rapira, Omar Slaimankhel.