Granty
09-06-2006, 12:25 AM
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19410560-10389,00.html
Stop the rot
Mike Colman and Mick Daly
June 09, 2006
QUEENSLAND halfback Johnathan Thurston knows it is time for him to "do a Joey" and dominate a State of Origin game.
In fact, he believes Wednesday's crunch game could be his last chance.
The Cowboys playmaker is one of the few players in the NRL who can make a game his own. He has done it time and again at club level and won last year's Dally M award in recognition of that.
But he has yet to stamp his authority at Origin level in the manner of former Queensland five-eighth Wally Lewis or Blues halfback Andrew "Joey" Johns.
He was reduced to the role of spectator when Johns took charge in the second half of Origin II last year and desperately wants to put in a similar performance for the Maroons.
"Hopefully this will be the one," he said. "I know I'd like to do it and I know Queensland supporters expect me to do it, but things don't always go to plan. Not everything goes right on the night.
"I've had a few tough games, but you've just got to keep trying. All I can do is prepare well and try to get everything right so that when the opportunity comes I can make the most of it."
Limited as his opportunities have been in his four-match Origin career, Thurston knows time is fast running out, going as far as to say he expects to be replaced by Scott Prince for Game Three if he does not make his mark on the night.
"I'm starting to look over my shoulder a bit," he said. "I thought it would have been either him or me starting in this match. I'm just very grateful that I've been given another opportunity. I know that if I don't stand up then I might not get another one."
If Thurston is to have any chance of controlling the game two things have to happen: The Queensland forwards must start better than they did in Origin I and the Maroons must hold on to the ball.
"I thought we did well to fight back after that first 20 minutes when we were under the pump but we have to start a lot better," he said. "We can't let their forwards take charge. They are very big and mobile and we have to shut down their key men like Willie Mason.
"Our ball control wasn't good at all. We just can't give them as much ball as we did. Hopefully if we can get those things right and cut down on their possession we'll get off to a better start. It's all about setting a platform and going forward."
And then, as Thurston has shown many times for the Cowboys during the past two seasons, anything is possible.
Stop the rot
Mike Colman and Mick Daly
June 09, 2006
QUEENSLAND halfback Johnathan Thurston knows it is time for him to "do a Joey" and dominate a State of Origin game.
In fact, he believes Wednesday's crunch game could be his last chance.
The Cowboys playmaker is one of the few players in the NRL who can make a game his own. He has done it time and again at club level and won last year's Dally M award in recognition of that.
But he has yet to stamp his authority at Origin level in the manner of former Queensland five-eighth Wally Lewis or Blues halfback Andrew "Joey" Johns.
He was reduced to the role of spectator when Johns took charge in the second half of Origin II last year and desperately wants to put in a similar performance for the Maroons.
"Hopefully this will be the one," he said. "I know I'd like to do it and I know Queensland supporters expect me to do it, but things don't always go to plan. Not everything goes right on the night.
"I've had a few tough games, but you've just got to keep trying. All I can do is prepare well and try to get everything right so that when the opportunity comes I can make the most of it."
Limited as his opportunities have been in his four-match Origin career, Thurston knows time is fast running out, going as far as to say he expects to be replaced by Scott Prince for Game Three if he does not make his mark on the night.
"I'm starting to look over my shoulder a bit," he said. "I thought it would have been either him or me starting in this match. I'm just very grateful that I've been given another opportunity. I know that if I don't stand up then I might not get another one."
If Thurston is to have any chance of controlling the game two things have to happen: The Queensland forwards must start better than they did in Origin I and the Maroons must hold on to the ball.
"I thought we did well to fight back after that first 20 minutes when we were under the pump but we have to start a lot better," he said. "We can't let their forwards take charge. They are very big and mobile and we have to shut down their key men like Willie Mason.
"Our ball control wasn't good at all. We just can't give them as much ball as we did. Hopefully if we can get those things right and cut down on their possession we'll get off to a better start. It's all about setting a platform and going forward."
And then, as Thurston has shown many times for the Cowboys during the past two seasons, anything is possible.