Hanging up boots never in thoughts of Thurston

COWBOYS champion Johnathan Thurston says he didn’t contemplate retirement after suffering a season- ending shoulder surgery, and has endorsed Michael Morgan as his Origin successor.

Thurston has signed on for an expected swansong season in 2018, and was asked by league Immortal Andrew Johns on The Sunday Footy Show whether he’d pondered calling it quits.

“Not at this stage mate. I’m contracted for next year,” Thurston said.

“I asked the medical staff if I could pump out one more game, but the advice they’d given me was if I want to live a healthy life after football, the best decision for me is to get the surgery done.”

Thurston reiterated he still intends to walk away from representative football, despite the injury picked up in Origin II cruelling his hopes of playing in the decider, and the endof- season World Cup.

“I’m pretty comfortable with the decision I’ve made to retire from rep football,” he said.

“What a way to go out in the Origin arena, in enemy territory kicking that winning goal to send the series into a decider.”

His Cowboys halves partner Morgan stepped up when his team needed it most in Saturday’s 14- 12 win over Penrith, setting up both their tries in the last gasp win.

Morgan has played all seven of his Origin games from the bench, but Thurston believes he deserves to replace him in the starting side.

“Michael Morgan’s been in the system coming off the bench and I think he’s earned the right to start in the six jersey,” Thurston said.

“We’ll wait and see what role Kevvie ( Walters, coach) and the selectors choose for the utility spot.

“Morgo’s done an unbelievable job in that area, but I think he’ll deserve the first crack there and no doubt he’ll do a good job.”