Walters lauds star’s toughness
JOHNATHAN Thurston insists he has not suffered structural damage to his shoulder as Maroons coach Kevin Walters detailed the extent of the playmaker’s bravery to save the Origin series.
Doctors at Thurston’s club side, the Cowboys, will get a clearer picture of his injury today, but the Maroons champion dismissed suggestions from NSW legend Andrew Johns he will require surgery in the coming days.
Thurston played 50 minutes of Origin II with fresh damage to a right- shoulder problem that has plagued him since suffering a minor tear of his rotator cuff in the Anzac Test six weeks ago.
The injury is set to rule Thurston out of tomorrow night’s clash against Penrith – delaying his 300th- game celebrations.
There are also fears the setback could shatter his Queensland farewell in the Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 12, but the 34- year- old is confident his latest shoulder issue is not serious.
“Structurally it is fine,” Thurston said. “I just got a cork ... I got whacked there a few times. I just need to get the swelling down and go from there.
“I will get back to Townsville and assess my shoulder and go from there.
“I’ll speak to our medical staff, we have the best guys available up there.
“It would be nice to play my 300th up there. That’s the plan, but I trust my medical staff more than anyone. Our physio Steve Sartori knows my body better than anyone and if he gives me the green light, I trust him.
“Everyone plays through pain out there. It’s a part of rugby league and a part of this game, everyone is carrying niggles at this time of year and I’m no different.”
Of his match- winning conversion, Thurston said: “It’s about going through the process. I have been through it a thousand times before. Sometimes I have missed, sometimes I have come up trumps. This time, I came up trumps.”
While Thurston downplayed his heroics, Walters lauded his toughness.
The Maroons coach described the scenes in the innersanctum at halftime amid fears the Queensland five- eighth would be forced to withdraw.
“He was in a lot of pain at halftime,” Walters said.
“He couldn’t have a needle for that area ( of his shoulder), so he just had to bite down on his mouth guard and play on.
“I asked him if he could get through and he assured me he would be OK for the second half. I touched him on the shoulder and he was wincing in pain.
“He had to mentally prepare himself for the second half because he knew NSW were going to target him.
“He is a special player ... every Queenslander should say a little prayer that Johnno will be OK for Origin III.”