NRL: Hurrell out but Vatuvei returns for Warriors

Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

Konrad Hurrell thinks he just needs to "harden up", but the Warriors won't take any risks and the blockbusting centre will miss Friday night's trip to take on the Broncos in Brisbane.

The 20-year-old has become one of the most feared players in the NRL after scoring 12 tries in as many games this season. His hat-trick against the Gold Coast last weekend took his tally to 11 from his last seven games and he now sits third on the NRL's try-scoring list.

He's also among the top-10 in the competition for most line breaks and tackle breaks even though he missed four games when dropped to the Vulcans and is in his rookie season.

But Hurrell injured his foot in the 32-14 defeat of the Titans on Saturday night, a recurrence of the injury he sustained in last year's Toyota Cup final, and has been in a moon boot since Sunday.

"It's not so bad at the moment," said Hurrell, speaking before an appointment with team doctor John Mayhew. "I think I can play. I just need to harden up and play with the boys."

The Warriors coaching and medical staff, however, won't let him and his place in the side will be taken by utility Lewis Brown who is familiar with the role having played 13 games in the centres last season.

Hurrell's absence is softened somewhat by the return of wing Manu Vatuvei, who has recovered well from knee surgery a little over a fortnight ago and replaces Omar Slaimankhel, who was named in a five-man bench.

Joining Slaimankhel there is back rower Sebastine Ikahihifo, who appeared in the 2010 and 2011 NYC grand final triumphs and who has been a Vulcans regular in the New South Wales Cup this year.

Micheal Luck, Jerome Ropati, Sam Rapira, Alehana Mara and Glen Fisiiahi are all missing through injury.

"Kon's not going to be right this week but we're hopeful he'll miss just this week and will be back for our home game against Newcastle," coach Brian McClennan said.

"Lewie [Brown] knows the position well. He played there for most of the second half after Kon went off on Saturday night and we know he'll do a really good job for us against the Broncos.

"While we've lost Kon, it's a big boost to have Manu back. He's such an important part of our team for so many reasons. He's been training terrifically and it's great having his experience out there."

The selection of both Brown and Vatuvei will add considerable age and experience to a youthful backline which, in the last three matches, had an average age of just 21.71 and just 33 games a player.

The Broncos sit fourth on the NRL ladder after 10 wins in their 16 matches and, although beaten 26-12 by Cronulla at home in their last outing, will have all of their State of Origin players back.

The Warriors go in with some momentum, having won their last two, but their record of eight wins, eight defeats illustrates their inability to push on. They haven't been able to string more than consecutive wins together in 2012 and will come up against a formidable outfit on Friday.

"They are powerful, well directed around the park and they have that attacking threat right throughout," McClennan said. "They have been tipped by plenty to be right in there at the business end of the season and it's easy to see that."

Warriors team to play the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Friday (9.30pm): Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Lewis Brown, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Omar Slaimankhel, Sione Lousi, Jacob Lillyman, Steve Rapira, Sebastine Ikahihifo.