YOUNG GUN V OWS T O FIRE FOR HIS IDOL
NOT that long ago, Jake Clifford was a wide- eyed Tully Tigers junior rapt to simply get a happy snap with Johnathan Thurston.
But Thurston has anointed the rookie half as “the future of the club” after he completed his first audition in his quest to win Thurston’s famous no. 7 jersey next year.
The 20- year- old has vowed to be more assertive and take more pressure off the retiring Thurston after admitting he was guilty of taking a back seat on debut in Saturday’s 24- 10 loss to the Dragons.
With the Cowboys no chance of making finals, coach Paul Green threw Clifford straight into the starting line- up alongside Thurston in the halves.
Thurston dominated the playmaking throughout and Clifford, who has been superb for Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup this season, will focus on being more aggressive this week.
“It ( overcalling Thurston) is something that will take confidence,” Clifford said.
“Calling it when I want it … I thought I took a backward step too much and hopefully next week, if I get another crack, I’ll be a bit more dominant.
“JT’s a freak, getting to train with him each week you learn something new all the time. He’s always competing and he’s always on the ball.
“It’s something I have to work into my game, I feel I faded away in some parts of the game.
“Hopefully I can stay in the game longer and help Johnno out with last play options, he started to get smothered a bit there.”
Clifford was understandably tentative on debut alongside one of the all- time greats, but will likely get an extended run in first grade to build toward next year.
Thurston, his childhood idol, presented him with his jersey pre- game. “He’s still plying his trade and is still young, he’s certainly got a big future ahead of him,” Thurston said.
“He was calling the shots there and made a couple of runs, I got some shape outside him.
“He’s had a really good season at Queensland Cup level and was really good in the twenties for the Maroons.
“No doubt he’s the future of the club.”
Green expects Clifford to gradually increase his impact as he takes time to adjust to the pace and physicality of the NRL.
“I thought his debut was good. I probably would have liked to have seen him get a bit more involved, to be honest.
“He’s got a good kicking game and we saw parts of that tonight, as he grows in confidence he’ll keep himself in the game a bit more.
“If you’re going to give a young guy like that a run, given where we’re at, that ( throwing him into the starting side) is probably the best way.
“Hopefully we’ll get the benefit of that down the track and I’m sure we will.
“There was a lot of kick pressure on Johnno, let’s mix it up a bit there.
“It’s up to him, he’s got to get his big boy voice out and get the ball.”