JT KNOWS HE’S A TARGET
Cowboys captain cops plenty of attention in Parra’s Darwin demolition
COWBOYS champion Johnathan Thurston admits he has a “target on my head” and is bracing for a Blues barrage in his return to the Queensland side for State of Origin II.
The Maroons team for Origin II will be named today and Thurston will be recalled for his 37th game for the Maroons after his shoulder survived a torrid examination against Parramatta on Saturday night.
Eels defenders targeted Thurston at Darwin’s TIO Stadium, with former NSW adversary Beau Scott attempting to unsettle the Maroons ace in the Cowboys’ 32-6 victory.
Thurston was repeatedly whacked attacking the line or as he passed the ball – prompting the referees to warn Eels co-captain Scott in the 29th minute about the heavy treatment of the Cowboys schemer.
Four-time Dally M medallist Thurston overcame the onslaught, scoring a second-half try and setting up three others to erase any doubt over his fitness for Origin II in Sydney on Wednesday week.
“I’ve always got a target on my head. That’s not going to change,” Thurston said after Eels trio Scott, Daniel Alvaro and Kenny Edwards peppered him with defensive shots.
“It’s going to be expected throughout the year.’’
Cowboys coach Paul Green lauded Thurston’s toughness in his first game for the club in 63 days, claiming the Eels’ onslaught had only galvanised his self-belief for Origin II.
“That was a good game for Johnno, it will give him some confidence for Origin II,” he said. “We all know his ability so the way he played didn’t surprise me.
“But it will get rid of any doubts he may have had (about his shoulder).”
Cowboys and Maroons teammate Justin O’Neill said Thurston is eager to dismantle the Blues after having his record 36-game Origin streak broken in Game One.
“JT is such a competitor,” he said. “He has been itching to come back since he has been out. The only thing that has held him back is that shoulder injury and as soon as he got it right, he was good enough to play.”
Cowboys scrumbase partner Michael Morgan is hopeful of retaining his Queensland utility spot for Origin II.
“I never see myself as a certain starter or anything like that, so I never take my Queensland jumper for granted,” Morgan said.