Rising Cowboys playmaker tells idol Thurston: Get out of the way ‘ Cliffo’ finds his voice
TELLING Johnathan Thurston to “beat it” is tough for any playmaker, especially a 20- year- old playing his fourth NRL game.
But a pivotal try- scoring play in Thursday’s 34- 30 win over Brisbane, when Jake Clifford ordered his childhood idol to get out of the way, may be the making of the Tully Tigers product.
In the first half, he spotted a chance down the short side, only for Thurston to run around, get the ball and offload to Clifford, who threw it over the sideline.
With 17 minutes left and the Cowboys down 30- 18, a similar scenario unfolded. This time, Clifford backed himself and his quick pass to Justin O’Neill set up a try to Kyle Feldt, which launched their comeback.
It’s a big step in Clifford’s development, as Cowboys coach Paul Green and Thurston have been drilling into him to find his voice in games.
Clifford backed his ability in the second half and unlocked the Broncos’ left edge defence a handful of times in his best 40 minutes of NRL so far.
If there is anyone who knows how tough it is to ask Thurston, one of the most competitive players the NRL has ever seen, to take a back seat, it’s injured halves partner Michael Morgan.
Sitting in the coach’s box, Morgan spotted Clifford’s greater assertiveness when another chance presented itself.
“I know better than anyone the position he’s in,” Morgan said of Clifford.
“He’s playing with one of the best ever and someone he grew up idolising – it’s hard to tell him to get out of the way.
“In that first half play, it broke down a bit and he tried to force it.
“In the second half the same scenario happened, but I saw him wave JT out of the way and backed himself.
“There’s now a couple of moments in a game which give him a perfect example of what he’s got to do.
“( In) the second half he was decisive and told JT to get out of the way, and we scored off it.
“JT is always ( going at) 100 miles an hour, on the ball and competing. Sometimes you actually have to say, ‘ hey, I’ve got this’.”
Although he only has three games left in his career, Thurston wants to see more from Clifford, who starred in Queensland under- 20s’ drought- breaking NSW this year.
Thurston has agreed to act in an ambassadorial role at the club for the next three years and wants to keep nurturing the halves.
“I was really proud of Cliffo on that right edge,” Thurston said.
“There was a couple of times where he told me to beat it and get out of the way.
“He’s starting to find his feet. It’s taken a little while, but that’s what we want from him.” win over
After Clifford’s debut against the Dragons in round 19, Green urged him to “find his big- boy voice”.
Last year’s under- 20 player of the year felt he has done so.
“All week they told me I need to find a bigger voice and if I see something and want to take an opportunity, to tell Johnno to beat it,” Clifford said.
“I did that a couple of times in the second half and it was good we found some points on that right edge.
“It definitely was a bit in- timidating ( ordering Thurston around) the first couple of weeks, but I feel like I’m building more confidence.”
Morgan could sense Clifford’s greater self- belief after the match.
“I think he came out of this game ( feeling) a bit more positive than he has previously,” Morgan said.
“I’m glad he got his opportunity this year because I thought he deserved a chance. At that age it’s a challenge, but he’s there for a reason.
“He’s a very good foot- baller – I don’t need to teach him too much.
“I can give him a few tips along the way, but it’s more about making sure he’s staying confident and believing in himself.”
It was left to Cowboys enforcer Coen Hess to sum up Clifford’s challenge best.
“It can be pretty daunting overcalling the ‘ GOAT’ – I certainly wouldn’t do it,” he said. “It’s taken him a few games to find his voice and it was good to see him overcalling Johnno.”