DM1ST
mirror.co.uk/sport THURSDAY 05.03.2020 DAILY MIRROR^49
entertainer Leeds’ Konrad Hurrellrugby league
Ev Ery night’s a
boogi E night
for hurrEll
Leeds Rhinos v Toronto Wolfpack
b tfred Super e league, ko 7.45pm
ExcLusivE by Gareth Walker
LEEDS star Konrad Hurrell has vowed
to keep dancing and high-fiving his
way through Super League.
The Tonga international has
become a firm favourite with Rhinos
fans and performed an impromptu
boogie live on Sky Sports after his
side’s impressive win over Warrington
last week.
Moments later he was pretending
to play a trumpet as the South Stand
band played the city’s ‘Marching on
Together’ anthem, before doing a
high-five lap of honour.
It’s moments like those that have
made Hurrell a Headingley hero –
alongside performances like Friday’s,
when he made 194 metres, two clean
breaks and didn’t miss a tackle.
And he intends to continue having
fun while Leeds look to maintain their
revival under coach Richard Agar
(below).
Hurrell said: “There’s a lot of young
kids that want to be in
my profession so I
want to make the
most of it while I’m
doing what I love to
do. I love the energy
that the Leeds fans
bring to the game –
they come and support us
no matter what the weather and I just
want to give something back to them.
“They kept turning up last year
when it must have been tough for
them to watch, and that’s special. you
want to give a bit extra for that.
“The dancing on Sky put me on the
spot a bit but I thought I’d got to do it,
and it was pretty good I reckon.”
The Rhinos have chalked up three
straight wins since their opening-
weekend defeat to Hull FC ahead of
tonight’s visit of winless Toronto.
but Hurrell is keen to ensure they
don’t underestimate their opponents,
coached by former Leeds boss brian
McDermott.
Hurrell added: “It looks like they’re
getting better and better. They nearly
beat Warrington two weeks ago so
you’re never quite sure what they’re
going to throw up.
“They have got some players that
are hard to stop including big Sonny
bill Williams, who will be on my side of
the field.
“He’s the top offloader in the
competition and that’s a big part of
his game, so we’ll need to keep an eye
on him.
“Their spine is pretty good as well,
and when they’re on it, they will be
tough to beat. but we’re heading in
the right direction now.”England v WalEs
g uinneSS Six nationS
Twickenham, SaTurday, ko 4.45pm
North’s bee N to
hell a Nd bok
George using agony
of Wales’ last-gasp
World Cup loss to
South Africa
as fuel
to take
on the
old enemy
this weekend
FROM BACK PAGE
today after talks with the RFU
and the Italian Federation
following emergency measures
announced by the Italian
government last night.
All major sports events in the
country are to be staged in
empty stadia if they are held
before April 3 in an attempt to
control the spread of the virus.
Italy has been the worst-hit
country in Europe with the death
toll passing 100 yesterday.
broadcasters ITV had already
told their commentary team not
to attend the Italy against
England game on March 14 and
to cover it from their London
studio instead.
Saturday’s game between
Ireland and Italy in Dublin has
already been postponed.
For the 20,000 England fans
expected to attend the match in
Rome, either outcome will
represent a U-turn after being
assured the match was going
ahead as planned on Monday.
England players’ families are
among those involved. And Red
Rose prop Joe Marler said: “I
have no one coming out so I
don’t have to worry about it.
“I don’t know about the other
boys, but I am sure they are
trying to work out their plans
accordingly.”
England assistant coach
Steve borthwick said: “We’re
very fortunate to have a great
logistics team.
“They’ll be dealing with all the
information and making sure the
coaches and players have it
when required.”GEORGE NORTH has
lifted the lid on
the World Cup pain he
is carrying with him
through the Six Nations.
The Wales winger is
preparing to face England
for a 14th time in a fixture
which holds more sweet
career memories for him
than any other.
But it is not those that
has North fired up ahead of
his return to Twickenham,
where famously he won
with Wales in 2012 and
2015 to set up a Grand
Slam and England’s World
Cup exit, respectively.
North has drawn
instead on the wounding
semi-final memory of
Yokohama four months
ago, where a 76th-minute
penalty by eventual win-
ners South Africa ended his
own World Cup dream.
“We missed out on one
step,” said North. “And it
will forever kick me in the
shin every time I thinkit, if not the best. It wasn’t
to be and there’s a danger,
if you focus too hard on
that sort of stuff, that you
miss what you’re going
through now. But you can’t
let it go. You need that fire.
You must push forward.”
North has been passed fit
after his sixth concussion,
suffered 11 minutes into
the loss to France. He now
has the chance to take his
combined cap tally for
Wales and the British Lions
to 99, with Saturday’s game
against England and next
week’s home closer against
Scotland.
After that his life changes
forever – with wife Becky
due to give birth to their
first child.rank-
ings a
month
before.
They
h e l d
t h e
G r a n d
S l a m
and the
national
record of 12
straight wins.
“A s k a n y
professional
sports person
what they feel like
when they’ve had a
good prep,” added
North, 27. “They’ll
say it feels like it’s
‘our time’.
“ W e w e r e
massively proud of
what we achieved
and with our form,
the playing staff,
coaches and
momentum we
had, I think it
was one of
our best
chances
to winabout it.
We put
heart
and soul
into it,
g a v e
every-
t h i n g
physically
and emo-
tionally. It
takes a while
to get over that.
“A c t u a l l y , I
don’t think you
ever really do. You
always carry that
hurt as fuel. It’s what
gets you up in the
morning... to put
things right.
“And while I
may not get an
opportunity to play
in another World
Cup, what puts fire
in my belly is the
hope that I will.”
Of his three
World Cups this
was the one, the
big chance.
That is how
North sees it.
Wales were
No.1 in theExcLusivE
by aleX SPink
Rugby Correspondent
@alexspinkmirrorgeorge north is a land rover
ambassador. land rover has
been helping rugby fans discover
the sport for over 20 years. Visit
landrover.co.ukWoRLd CUp semi finaL^2019
WoRLd CUp 2015
six naTions 2012
England v italy
clash b Ehind
closEd doors
or postponEd
rarinG to Go England players
enjoy a laugh in training yesterday