Martin’s the man, JT says

Cowboys great declares Kiwi should be in the halves

RUGBY LEAGUE: Johnathan Thurston has declared Te Maire Martin is the right man to partner Michael Morgan in the halves next year, as the race to clinch a starting spot at the Cowboys heats up.

A week after North Queensland’s commencement of preseason training, star playmaker Morgan will join them today in his return from a seasonending bicep injury.

One of the biggest question marks hovering over the Cowboys ahead of season 2019 is who will replace the retired Thurston in the halves alongside Morgan.

Young gun Jake Clifford emerged last season as a strong contender, playing six NRL games in his debut year.

But Thurston believes it is Kiwi international Martin who will be the best fit for the Cowboys, especially with new recruit Ben Barba expected to slot in at fullback.

“With Ben Barba at the club, Te Maire Martin will be first choice to partner Morgo in the halves,” Thurston said.

“It will be nice if in the early part of the year we can get settled on a nine, seven, six and one. Last season was hard because there were a lot of changes.

“He (Martin) is a real footballer. He’s a bit like (Cronulla back) Val Holmes where things just happen around him. He knows how to find the tryline and has great vision. He knows how to read a play.

“He’s a natural footballer. That will help take the pressure off Morgo. He’s not afraid to call the shots.”

Martin and Clifford will go head-to-head in the battle for the remaining halves spot over the pre-season, with the Cowboys on a mission to respond strongly after a poor season.

Widely tipped as pre-season premiership favourites, North Queensland failed to deliver Thurston a fairytale farewell to the game and finished in 13th place. They recruited strongly in a bid to bounce back in 2019 and Thurston also revealed last week that he would mentor the club’s halves over the next 12 months.

His appointment certainly boosts Martin’s chances of claiming that halves spot, but the Queensland and Australian great still believes 20-yearold Clifford has a bright future.

Thurston said he expects Martin to spend more time in the Intrust Super Cup with the Northern Pride next year before he became a regular first-grader.

“Jake Clifford finished this year off strongly and he’ll be looking to build on that,” Thurston said.

“I have no doubt he has a big future ahead of him at the club. I’m sure he learnt a lot in those six games that he played.

“He will want to start the year off strongly and that he’ll want to have a really good preseason … he’ll want to prove to the coaching staff that he’s ready, whether he gets the opportunity to start or not.”