Time to use emotion of JT farewell
COWBOYS coach Paul Green admits he has “probably neglected” embracing the emotion surrounding Johnathan Thurston’s farewell season.
The champion halfback said before his 300th game in Round 1 that the Cowboys “would lose sight of the bigger picture” if they used his swan song as motivation.
But Green on Monday said the team made a pact before Friday’s win over Penrith to ensure the co-captain bows out on a high note.
Thurston has copped some criticism early this season but is still second in try assists and third in line-break assists.
“I don’t think we’ve probably paid enough attention to the emotional side of that (Thurston leaving). As a team, we need to embrace that a bit more,” Green said.
“As a coach you want to go away from that because it’s 26 rounds. If it’s emotion every week they’re going to wear me out and I’m going to run out of reason to get them up emotionally each week.
“It’s probably something I’ve neglected, to be honest. Let’s be honest, this is our last chance to be involved with some of the game’s greats.”
The Cowboys (3-6) showed better signs, particularly in attack and their attitude, against the Panthers in Bathurst, and will look to find some momentum against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval tomorrow night.
“Let’s make sure for his sake and for our sake that we all enjoy it,” Green said.
“He’s all about the team. Because of that, that’s how much it means to the rest of the group. They don’t want to hear people saying he went one year too long.
“Last week was a bit of a line-in-the-sand moment from that point of view. We said, you know what, we're going to make sure he’s going out on a good note. If you look at stats alone he’s top 10 in try assists and line-break assists. He wasn’t by no means playing poorly at all.”
Cowboys centre Ben Hampton said lifting for Thurston had been in the back of the players' minds.
“It’s always been there with everyone. We haven’t really spoken about it too much to be honest, because it’s hard to play on emotion every single week,” he said. “It’s definitely something that I think about a fair bit.”
Thurston’s halves partner Michael Morgan said the team needs to show some resolve.
“In his last season I’d love nothing more to send him out as the champion he is,” Morgan said. SAM Thaiday has bolted back into Origin contention after Maroons coach Kevin Walters was urged to recall the sacked Queensland forward.
Thaiday’s Origin career appeared over after Walters axed the 29-game veteran following Queensland’s heavy Game One loss last year.
However, Queensland have a forwards crisis with Test stars Matt Gillett (broken neck) and Josh McGuire (ankle) set to miss the series opener at the MCG on June 6.
Storm incumbent Tim Glasby (broken thumb) is also injured while Titans tearaway Jai Arrow has been sidelined with a rib injury, hurting his prospects of an Origin debut.
Maroons legend Gorden Tallis said he spoke to Walters and urged him to consider re-