An expired visa has delayed Konrad Hurrell's arrival into World All Stars camp with a Monday public holiday in New Zealand further complicating his departure.
Called into the World All Stars team following the withdrawal of Warriors teammate Roger Tuivasa-Sheck due to a calf strain, Hurrell was unable to make the flight to Brisbane as his visa to Australia had expired.
Late Monday afternoon World All Stars players were unsure when Hurrell would be joining them in camp to prepare for Saturday's clash with the Indigenous All Stars team at Suncorp Stadium, leaving Warriors teammate Ryan Hoffman to explain his absence.
"Interesting story about Konrad," Hoffman said.
"Konrad's visa to Australia had expired and it's a public holiday in Auckland so I'm not quite sure how they're going at the embassy to try and get him a visa.
"Just thank goodness it wasn't Round 1."
Although the border patrol were quick to act on Hurrell's lack of paperwork he was able to escape any punishment from the judiciary after his running style was again called into question during the Downer NRL Auckland Nines.
Manly prop Jake Trbojevic was heavily concussed when he went in low to tackle Hurrell, his head connecting with Hurrell's leg just above the knee.
Hurrell was suspended for three matches last season for a similar incident that saw Cronulla's Anthony Tupou suffer a badly broken jaw but Hoffman hopes the latest incident for which he was issued a "concerning act" notice doesn't lessen his destructive running style.
"We want to protect our players as much as possible but unfortunately in rugby league you get accidents and that's what I think happened the other day.
"Hopeully it doesn't rattle Konrad," said Hoffman, who will make his All Stars debut in place of Simon Mannering this week.
"You saw when the incident happened that he showed a lot of care for the opposition and that's the type of bloke Konrad is.
"We want him to be nice and cuddly when the game's not playing but when the whistle goes we need him running as hard as possible.
"Jake Trbojevic is a very brave bloke and he always puts his body on the line and unfortunately in those situations you get rugby league accidents.
"I'm very happy that he's feeling better and I don't think Konrad has too much to worry about."
The withdrawal of Tuivasa-Sheck robs the All Stars game of one of its most exciting talents but Hoffman revealed that the Dally M Fullback of the Year played the final of the Nines with the injury and needed to be rested.
"Roger played quite a bit of time over the weekend and he pulled up with a calf strain," he said.
"He actually pushed through in the final which was really good for him to do that for the club but that's the sacrifice you make.
"He had a busy end of year with the Kiwis and coming and joining a new team so it's precautionary for him but he's certainly added something to that backline."
