‘Terminator’ chases starring role
HIS Cowboys teammates call him the “Terminator”, and Johnathan Thurston says he is built of granite.
Now Corey Jensen is ready to show the NRL he is more than looks and can forge a long-term career in the top grade.
Jensen will play his fourth NRL game when the Cowboys tackle Melbourne at AAMI Park tonight in a match that has been ripped apart by State of Origin.
Nine of Queensland’s 17 players for Game Two on Wednesday come from the Cowboys and Storm.
What should have been an NRL blockbuster has been transformed into a match full of regular reserve graders. But that has given players like Jensen an opportunity to shine.
After spending three years in North Queensland’s under-20s system, Jensen went back to the Townsville Blackhawks for two seasons to prove he was NRL worthy. He returned to the Cowboys this year and was stunned when he heard someone yell out “The Terminator” was back.
“When I was here in the under-20s I did a pre-season with the NRL when a few of the World Cup boys were away (2013-14),” Jensen said.
“I got the nickname Terminator. Robert Lui made it up.
“I went away for a couple of years and then I came back and somehow people still remembered it. I don’t know who kept it on. They managed to pick it up somehow.
“I have no idea (how it started). I try to train really hard, whether it’s in the gym or on the field. Everything I do I try to do at 100 per cent.
“I think that if I’m training hard I will play hard. I like to train how I play.
“I like playing a tough brand of footy. I go all out.”
At 104kg, Jensen is a chiselled specimen and proved how strong he was in the Top End last week.
When Thurston had to test his injured shoulder in Darwin, Jensen and Coen Hess were called up to run at the champion halfback, prompting his “granite” remark.
“I had to run as hard as I could at him and tackle him as hard as I could to test it out,” Jensen said. “I felt bad. I was a bit hesitant at times. I didn’t want to go too hard and him re-injure his shoulder, but then I wanted him to get what he needed to out of it.
“Hopefully his shoulder should be all right if he can hit ‘granite’.”
While the Cowboys will be without Maroons representatives Michael Morgan, Gavin Cooper, Hess and Thurston, coach Paul Green has assembled a team that still looks strong on paper.
“We’ve had a fair few injuries and rep duties throughout the year,” Jensen said.
“We’ve had players having to step up each week. That’s really helped our squad come together a bit more.
“All the boys have stepped up and taken their games to another level because we’ve had to. It doesn’t matter who plays out there, we’re confident we can get the job done.
“I’ve played a few good games in the QCup. I can take that into this weekend and back my ability and hopefully perform well enough to hold my spot there.”