Mission to send JT off in style

THE North Queensland Cowboys are treating tomorrow night’s testimonial clash against Melbourne as the first step in the club’s quest to give Johnathan Thurston a premiership finale.

The Cowboys are raging favourites to win this year’s NRL crown, with champion duo Thurston and prop Matt Scott returning from injury to bolster the North Queensland side that qualified for last year’s grand final.

The Storm’s showdown with the Cowboys tomorrow at Suncorp Stadium will prise open wounds for Coen Hess, who was stung by his side’s 34-6 loss to Melbourne in last year’s decider.

But the return of Thurston, coupled with the emotion surrounding his final season in the NRL, is driving the Cowboys squad to clinch a second title in four seasons.

“We definitely want to win it for JT,” Hess said.

“There hasn’t been hype yet because it’s early.

“We are just going about our business as per usual, but we know it’s Johnno’s last year and that means a lot to the guys. To send him out a winner would be really special.

“There’s no doubt it (last year’s grand final defeat) hurts a lot. It’s the thing you think about all preseason.

“Melbourne put in a great performance that day and we couldn’t match that, but we will use that pain that we did feel as motivation for this year and hopefully go one better.”

Cowboys coach Paul Green wants Thurston to be given the premiership send-off he de- any only serves, but urged his troops not to be burdened by the hype – starting against the Storm.

“Johnathan’s career needs to be celebrated, we just need to make sure it’s not a distraction,” Green said.

“You’d like to think it adds a bit of motivation for his teammates because he’s a guy who has put the team first through his whole career. This is a chance to show them some respect, but we’ll never make it about Johnno.

“It’s not about, ‘let’s (win) it for Johnno this year’.

“If you know him as a bloke, it’s all about the team. It’s never about him.

“There will be plenty of stuff in and around our club given it’s his last year.

“It’s important we keep our focus on footy games.”

YOU’D LIKE TO THINK IT ADDS A BIT OF MOTIVATION FOR HIS TEAMMATES BECAUSE HE’S A GUY WHO HAS PUT THE TEAM FIRST THROUGH HIS WHOLE CAREER

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