Resting knee injury offers a Ray of hope
RAY Thompson is the “warrior” filling Johnathan Thurston’s boots, but he admits his battered knee could decide whether he hangs his own up at the end of the year.
Thompson has a long-term issue he will have to manage until the end of his career, and missed the opening round of this year after it flared up again.
The 27-year-old is off contract after this year and while his knee has been manageable week to week, how it holds up by late this season could determine his future.
Cowboys coach Paul Green praised Thompson as “tougher than a two-dollar steak” when he returned to first grade in round eight, and he will play in the halves against Gold Coast on Saturday night.
“I don’t want to speculate too much but it’s week by week. It’s all subject to how I feel at the end of the year,” Thompson said.
“Whether the Cowboys can fit me in, whether the knee wants me to play on (are the major factors).
“At the end of the day I have a little family and we’re going to see how that pans out at the end of the year. I don’t want to make any rash decisions.”
Thompson barely trains before the captain’s run each week as his knee is sore and swollen after every game.
“It’s pretty sore. We just gauge it on how much swelling there is,” Thompson said.
“I’m not missing training because I want to. I’d love to be out there with the boys.
“The start of the week is fairly light to let the knee settle down a bit.”
Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote couldn’t resist a good-natured dig at Thompson when asked what he has to go through to get this body right for games.
“Nothing. He doesn’t train until captain’s run,” Coote said.
“He’s very professional in what he does and getting it right, and every time he has taken the field he’s done the job for us.”
Cowboys utility Ben Hampton fronted media with his left knee strapped after copping a knock with Northern Pride last week, but insisted he’s in no doubt for the Titans clash.
Hampton was dropped for the round eight clash against Newcastle and said playing Queensland Cup had given him a chance to work on his defensive efforts under fatigue.
“I’ve taken a bit of time to get used to playing dummy half full time, this is my first year,” Hampton said.