WELCOME RETURN
JOHNATHAN Thurston looked at the doctor, his trademark smile gone.
“Just two more games,” Thurston begged.
“That is all I want. Just give me two more and that will do.”
But on the eve of his 300th NRL game last year, the rugby league legend was delivered the news that left him fearing his career was over.
“You may never pick up your girls again if you play,” the doctor said.
The shoulder injury that robbed the Queensland superstar of a fitting State of Origin farewell resembled that of a “car crash” victim.
In the digital medical images obtained exclusively by News Corp on the eve of the North Queensland captain’s 300th game, the shoulder tendon is retracted back several centimetres and the “whole thing was ripped off”.
“The surgeon (Dr John Maguire) told me that it was one of the worst shoulders he had ever seen,” Thurston said.
“All three tendons that hold your shoulder together where damaged and one of them was severed through.”
Thurston broke down last year when he was told his record-breaking career was in doubt, but will become just the 30th player in history to play 300 games when the Cowboys take on the Sharks tonight.
The four-time Dally M winner was devastated when it sunk in that he would not be able to finish his Queensland career on his own terms last year.
“Yeah, I was a bit of a mess,” Thurston said. “I called my partner (Samantha) when I got in the car to tell her what happened and I couldn’t even get out a word.”
Thurston injured his shoulder while tackling Tyson Frizell in the 15th minute of Origin II last year. He then ignored 65 minutes of crippling pain to lead Queensland to a series-saving win, booting the match-winning goal from the sideline.
He missed his milestone 300th match and didn’t play again all season, missing out on another grand final appearance with the Cowboys. But after 258 days of doubt, he will achieve the rare feat tonight.
“I am not all that big on milestones and numbers but this one is pretty special,” Thurston said.