Three days after scoring a try against the world champions in a Rugby League World Cup quarter-final, Alex Hurst was adjusting to life on the rugby buroo yesterday.
It seems bizarre to anyone who has watched the tournament in which he has been among the most impressive of Scotland's players, starting every match as they upset the odds to reach the last eight, but Hurst was always going to be unemployed as soon as the tournament finished as a result of being released by the crisis-hit London Broncos, whose future remains unclear.
As well as playing for his country, or to be more accurate Coatbridge-born grandmother Alice's country, the 23-year-old winger has consequently also been in the shop window over the past three months, but is still waiting for offers.
"It's the dream career. I'd love to be full-time again, but if the offers don't come in I won't be doing it and nothing's come in yet," he said. "Hopefully something will but it's out of my hands. I can only do what I've done on the field and hope someone takes notice.
"It's a shame what's happened to the Broncos. We don't really know what's going on but I hope Broncos do really well and I wish them all the best for the future. I loved my time there having been given my chance by them, was well looked after and would be very happy to go back if things get sorted out."
Hurst has clearly revelled in the substantial distraction of World Cup action, demonstrating his commitment in spectacular fashion in coming through the pain barrier to face the Kiwis last Friday after injuring a quad muscle in the team run-through on the evening of the game. "I was borderline in tears because I wanted to play so badly, but luckily the doc and the medical staff were awesome and got me through it," he said.
Setting aside that little bit of history, when he scored the try that prevented a Scotland team that was strewn with part-time players from being whitewashed by the world champions, Hurst's highlight was a soaring leap in defence above much bigger opponents to defuse what in rugby league they call a bomb. It was an extraordinary effort given the nature of his injury.
"I felt it a bit in the warm-up but I didn't tell Steve [McCormack, the head coach]. Adrenalin takes over," he said. "You've just got to get up for these big games because it's a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity."
That attitude exemplifies what the Scotland team was all about, as was his description of his touchdown. "It was a team try," he said. "It might have had my name on it and it's something I'll always be able to say I did, but it's a team effort and I'm just happy to be part of it."
Hurst's situation reflects that of the Scotland set-up as a whole since they are now wholly without funding as they look uncertainly towards the future. Their management, who have largely been involved on a voluntary basis, hope their efforts will raise the profile of their sport in Scotland enough to attract new funding.
Anyone who does offer them support can expect to find themselves involved with as committed a group of men as have ever represented a national side.
"It's unbelievable. We've got the best group of fellas and we've all knitted in really well," said Hurst. "We've run on bare bones, but we've pulled together as a unit. That's shown on and off the pitch with the banter and everyone's team ethic. We've all worked together and it's been massive."
Hurst's involvement is representative of so many of them. Born and bred in Salford, he was delighted to get the chance to play in the key pool game against the USA: "Having all the family and friends there last week was fantastic. It's not often people get to play a World Cup tie in their own backyard."
However, his pride in his heritage also shone through. "Me nana's been shouting us on through the tournament. I've always known I was part Scottish and she was proud as punch when I got my first cap," said Hurst. "We just want to fly the flag. We're Scottish and we're going to fly the flag. Everyone wrote us off except ourselves, but we always backed ourselves."
It is surely now time that others did likewise.
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