WHY JT’S SMILING AGAIN
STATS SAY JT REMAINS A WEAPON
JOHNATHAN Thurston’s decline as a an NRL superstar has been gre greatly exaggerated. Thurston, who turned 35 on Wednesday, r ranks second for try assists this season with nine from seven gam games, and is also second in the N NRL for linebreak assists with eig eight. “I think that augurs well fo for us because he is too good a player n not to get back to his best,” Cowboys coach Paul Green said of Thurston leading in into tonight’s cla clash with Canberra.
JOHNATHAN Thurston’s decline as an NRL superstar has been greatly exaggerated.
Thurston has borne the brunt of the criticism for North Queensland’s tepid start in 2018, but statistics show that the Cowboys champion is still one of the game’s elite playmakers.
According to Fox Sports Stats, Thurston, who turned 35 on Wednesday, ranks second for try assists this season with nine from seven games – behind only Dragons star Gareth Widdop ( 11), who has also played an extra game following his side’s Anzac Day win over the Roosters.
Thurston is also second for linebreak assists with eight – equal with Cowboys halves partner Michael Morgan and behind comp leaders Widdop ( 10) and Manly enforcer Jake Trbojevic ( 10).
His performances fly in the face of how some commentators have judged Thurston after coming back from a serious shoulder injury, with Penrith great Greg Alexander even suggesting that he may have played a season too long.
Injuries restricted the star halfback to just seven games for the Cowboys last season, posting eight try assists and five linebreak assists in that time, and he has already improved on that output this year.
Thurston has looked every bit of his 35 years when he’s picked himself up after a big hit and he admitted earlier this week that it now takes his body a lot longer to recover after games.
But that hasn’t dulled his effectiveness with the ball in hand and Cowboys coach Paul Green was confident the four- time Dally M winner still had plenty to offer in his farewell season.
“I think he’s been good. He hasn’t been at his best, but I think that augurs well for us because he’s too good a player not to get back to his best,” Green said.
“You look at the stats and where he sits in terms of try assists and linebreaks assists and he’s still capable of playing better.
“I think our players have been pretty good at not buying into any of that talk ( criticism) and making sure that they understand what their own role is and focusing more on that.
“There’s improvement in all of us and him ( Thurston) in particular. I think the more footy he gets under his belt the better he’ll get.”
Cowboys five- eighth Michael Morgan agreed much of the criticism of Thurston had been harsh, but he was adamant they weren’t letting that outside noise affect their performances.
“I always think when teams are going well the halves get a lot of the credit and when teams are going bad the blame gets put on the halves as well,” Morgan said.
“Because of where you look at us on the ladder, I guess it’s easy to point the finger at him ( Thurston), but I think when you have a proper look at it he’s doing pretty well.
“You never want to be losing so there’s enough pressure on yourself, but it’s about not letting the pressure affect the way you’re playing or the way you’re thinking.
“In your own head you have to be mentally strong enough to block those sorts of things out.”
NRL Leading Try Assists 2018