Let’s give JT stellar send- off

THE countdown to Johnathan Thurston’s final game for his beloved North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville is well and truly on.

Yesterday’s revelation of the pre- game entertainment makes the day many Cowboys fans hoped would not come more real.

Melbourne pop star Isaiah Firebrace will be supported by Townsville’s Jade Holland and Trent Bell in providing the off- field highlights at what will be a memorable occasion.

It is certain to be an emotional night for Thurston, his family, teammates, club staff and, of course, the fans.

Thurston helped deliver what every Cowboys fan has dreamt of since the team’s inception in 1995 when he helped lead the club to grand final glory in 2015.

That achievement, above all the individual and representative achievements, is what means the most to his North Queensland fans and, no doubt, the player himself.

It will be a night sure to be tinged with sadness, but the focus should be on celebrating Thurston’s numerous achievements.

It will give those in the crowd the opportunity to simply say thanks.

No player in Cowboys history has put in as much effort for the team as Thurston.

Win or lose, Thurston never stops trying and putting his body on the line.

To make the occasion more special, it would be great to see 1300SMILES Stadium packed next Friday night.

As of yesterday, there were still about 8000 tickets left for a game any Cowboys fan worth their spurs should attend.

Incredibly, Thurston’s final NRL game – the following week against the Titans on the Gold Coast – is headed for a sellout.

More than 21,000 tickets have been sold for that clash and it looks set to challenge the ground record of 27,227.

So come on North Queensland, don’t let those Gold Coasters put one over us.

Get your ticket for next Friday night and get to the game.

JT deserves that sellout.