JT’s fight to get back

Thurston ruled out, but Game 2 chance

THE thought of injury derailing his State of Origin swan song is devastating, but Johnathan Thurston is adamant it won’t prompt him to play on in the representative arena next season.

Queensland’s Origin title defence suffered a mighty blow when the champion playmaker was ruled out of Wednesday night’s series opener at Suncorp Stadium after failing to overcome a shoulder complaint, ending his record 36-match Origin streak since his debut in 2005.

And the inspirational pivot is no certainty to be fit for Game 2 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on June 21.

“Fingers crossed I will be back before then,” Thurston said of Game 2. “There’s no surgery planned at this stage.

“I’m devastated but hopefully it is only a couple of more weeks.”

Thurston yesterday sounded like a man who was also considering the prospect of missing the entire series.

“If I don’t play another Origin game it will be devastating, but the memories are something I’ll cherish,” he said.

However, the three-time Golden Boot winner said the injury setback had not given him second thoughts about drawing the curtain on his stellar representative career at the end of the year.

“My decision around the representative arena is final — I am at peace with the decision I made,” Thurston said.

Thurston’s shock withdrawal opens the door for Brisbane’s Anthony Milford to make his Origin debut for Queensland in Game 1.

Thurston, 34, had a blessed Origin run, playing in every game of the Maroons’ 10 series wins in the past 12 years. But after playing 36 straight, Thurston is in danger of missing two in a row in his final Origin series.

Queensland made the surprise call on Thurston barely 24 hours after the playmaker declared he would know more about his fitness after Sunday’s contact session.