JT set to defy docs
COWBOYS champion Johnathan Thurston is set to defy doctor’s orders and play against Parramatta tonight in Darwin in a massive boost for Queensland’s teetering Origin hopes.
Thurston is on a collision course with Cowboys medicos, who have urged the Maroons maestro to rest for another week in the countdown to Origin II on Wednesday week.
But barring a last-minute mishap, Thurston will run out against Parramatta tonight at TIO Stadium in what would be his first game for North Queensland in 63 days.
Thurston’s insistence on playing against the Eels underlines his desire to get some match fitness in his bid to rescue the Maroons and keep the Origin series alive at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
The Cowboys playmaker travelled to the Top End with his teammates and took part in North Queensland’s captain’s run yesterday.
Cowboys coach Paul Green will see how Thurston pulls up this morning before making a final decision, but if the Maroons ace gets his way, he will face the Eels in jumper No.19.
Thurston hasn’t played for the Cowboys since injuring his calf against the Wests Tigers on April 8. He overcame the injury in time to represent Australia in the Anzac Test, only to damage his rotator cuff, which ultimately sidelined Thurston for Queensland’s crushing 28-4 loss in Origin I.
While Thurston is confident, Cowboys doctors are urging caution.
North Queensland’s highperformance unit would prefer to see Thurston sit out another seven days, but the veteran of 36 Origin matches insists he is 100 per cent fit.
The return of Thurston is a huge fillip not only for the Cowboys, who are seventh, but the Maroons, who sorely missed his leadership and playmaking brilliance in their Game One horror show.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters says he expects Thurston to take on the Eels.
“I will probably pick John at six but I need to talk to the selectors first,” Walters said.
“My information is that Thurston will play. I spoke to Johnno and he told me he was hopeful of playing against the Eels. It was a four-to-six week injury and six weeks will be the Sunday before Origin II.”