How Tonga’s World Cup campaign is inspiring the Titans in 2018

Konrad Hurrell says a touch of Tongan selflessness will go a long way this year on the Gold Coast.

The NRL centre was part of the side’s courageous semi-final run at the Rugby League World Cup and, on returning this week to Titans training, said he had already drawn some comparisons between the sides.

The addition of Michael Gordon and Brenko Lee to the Titans’ backline has offset the departure of high-profile fullback Jarryd Hayne, as new coach Garth Brennan instils a workmanlike culture at the club.

Keen to improve on last season’s second-last finish, Hurrell said he could already see that selflessness in action as the squad slogged it out on Tuesday in the Gold Coast humidity.

“I like that about the team this year,” the 26-year-old said.

“There’s no one or two players the boys are relying on ... that’s what got us (Tonga) through to the semis and the Titans are already starting to do that already.”

Tonga came within a whisker of the World Cup final, having beaten New Zealand and narrowly losing to England in a dramatic semi-final.

Hurrell and fellow Tongan squad member Lee are the only internationals at the Titans after Hayne’s return to Parramatta.

But he doesn’t see that as a bad thing.

“Everyone’s got to bring their little one per cent ... buying in and doing it together on and off the field,” Hurrell said.

“No one’s waiting for someone else to do it before they do it.”

Brennan has pushed the Titans’ physical limits either side of Christmas at a Toowoomba training camp and, more recently, back on the training paddock in Parkwood.

But Hurrell said he was happy to see his teammates still smiling when he returned on Monday from holidays.

Former Canterbury centre Lee is among the new faces at the club. His favoured position is at right centre.

Joking that he’d be happy to slot into the halves instead, Hurrell said he would relish the new competition but also be comfortable switching to the left side if Brennan went that way.

“They’re good boys ... good players. It’s exciting and good to challenge yourself in the team,” Hurrell said.