STAR IN DOUBT
Thurston in doubt for preseason clash in Cairns
JOHNATHAN Thurston will seek a clearance from his surgeon on Thursday to expose his shoulder to match conditions in a pre-season trial on Saturday in Cairns.
Thurston said his shoulder, which forced him to miss the remaining matches last year after Origin II, had reacted well to a Cowboys contact training session last Friday.
Thurston hopes to be part of a 22man squad to play Wests Tigers in Cairns.
Cowboys Michael Morgan, Jason Taumalolo and new signing Jordan McLean are being held back to make their returns for 2018 in the testimonial game against the Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Friday week.
“The last time I saw him (my surgeon) he was pretty happy with it and I’m looking forward to getting out on the field,’’ Thurston said.
“Last week I started with opposed sessions. On Friday we did a full opposed season and I got a few whacks and drilled by a couple of the boys to test it out — it feels good.’’
Cameron Smith said he was “not really’’ looking forward to coming across former Storm teammate McLean in the testimonial game.
“He’ll be running straight at me,’’ Smith said. “I was really sad to see him leave.’’ The testimonial game, which also partly benefits selected charities, marks 25 years since Smith and Thurston played their first matches against each other.
“When we were 10 years old, there was me playing for Logan Brothers and JT for Sunnybank,’’ Smith said.
CAMERON Smith says teammate Cameron Munster warrants being first cab off the rank for one of the Queensland halves spots despite being briefly called home from the World Cup by worried Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
Munster and Cowboy Michael Morgan, who played at five-eighth and centre respectively for Queensland in Origin III last year, will mark each other in the charity testimonial trial game in honour of Smith and Johnathan Thurston next Friday at Suncorp Stadium.
Munster left the Australian camp after a fracas involving fellow Kangaroo Ben Hunt. His Storm coach Craig Bellamy last week said Munster had “some issues every now and then when he drinks alcohol’’.
Maroons coach Kevin Walters said late last season that Morgan was well placed to succeed Cooper Cronk as Queensland’s halfback for the series – to be played without Cronk or Thurston – on the basis of his finals form for the Cowboys at No.7.
Asked if Munster and Morgan should be considered first in the queue for the Queensland halves spots, Smith said: “I think so. They both played in the last State of Origin game which we won quite well.
“They were both involved in the World Cup and they are quality players. I think they will be looking out for a big start in their season.
“He (Munster) is a young guy and most young people get into some sort of mischief.
“He’s a good young kid. I truly believe that. We all know he is a wonderful footballer.
“Once he gets his off-field (behaviour) right as well as his on-field stuff, he can be a special player for Queensland if he wants to. He just has to make sure he applies himself.’’
The Storm have their second pre-season game on Friday night in the World Club Challenge game against Leeds and their last outing in the testimonial against the Cowboys.
Smith said he would be available to play Leeds and anticipated halfback Brodie Croft, 20, would also make his first pre-season appearance on Friday.
Smith has been back at training for two weeks after the World Cup and said he thought Croft was “just ahead’’ in the battle to get first crack in the premiership season at the spot vacated by Cronk.
“He has more weight on his shoulders, getting the chance to wear the No.7,’’ Smith said.
“The WCC is a pretty important game and I’m thinking he’ll get the nod for that match.”
HE (MUNSTER) IS A YOUNG GUY AND MOST YOUNG PEOPLE GET INTO SOME SORT OF MISCHIEF. HE’S A GOOD YOUNG KID. WE ALL KNOW HE IS A WONDERFUL FOOTBALLER.
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