Cowboys eye Elgey to step into JT’s big boots

THE Titans are facing a battle to retain Kane Elgey, with the Cowboys eyeing him as a playmaking successor to Johnathan Thurston.

North Queensland coach Paul Green yesterday revealed Elgey was among a number of options in his succession plan to replace Thurston.

The Cowboys will get a first-hand glimpse of Elgey when the former Australian Schoolboys star confronts Thurston tomorrow night at Cbus Super Stadium.

Thurston has not ruled out extending his career until 2019, but the Cowboys are bracing for JT to retire at the end of next season.

That is when Elgey is off contract, giving the Cowboys the chance to make a formal play for the Gold Coast junior.

Green is weighing up a number of playmaking permutations, including promoting young talent from within the club, and said he was monitoring Elgey’s progress.

“We need to have a serious look at whether we promote from within or whether we go to the market to buy someone,” Green said.

“Kane Elgey is off contract at the same time (as Thurston’s planned retirement), so that would work in well.

“Elgey is a guy we would have a look at. He will be one of several young halves we could look at.

“He has a left-foot kick, which is good, but we have Lachlan Coote who can play that role for us already.

“If we promote from within, we’re not going to find a guy that is going to fill JT’s boots straight away. Kyle Laybutt is at our club and Jake Clifford is in the under-20s. We have a few guys in our system who are coming through, so I’ll be watching how they develop.”

The Titans must also stave off a poaching raid from the Broncos for halfback Ashley Taylor, but recruitment chief Tony Mestrov was confident the club could retain Elgey.

“The Thurston retirement issue is something we’re aware of and we’re looking to tie up both Kane and Ash sooner rather than later,” he said.