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North Queensland coach Paul Green has brushed off any injury concerns over skipper Johnathan Thurston despite him sporting an ice pack on his calf on Saturday afternoon.
The Cowboys wrapped up preparations for Sunday’s NRL decider against Brisbane with a captain’s run at ANZ Stadium.
But all eyes were on the health of their star halfback, who completed just his second training run of the week after sustaining a corked calf against Melbourne in last weekend’s preliminary final.
A curt Green said Thurston “trained well”.
“He’s got ice on something after every session. It’s standard,” he said.
Sydney’s weather also warmed up for the grand final with a Queensland-like 29 degrees for the Cowboys’ final run.
Temperatures at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium are expected to reach a scorching 35 degrees on Sunday, nudging an October record 38 degrees.
“It was obviously a lovely day. It was good to get that run under the belt,” Green said.
“The boys get a bit of a feel for it. Kickers have a kick on the surface, and it’s not so (overwhelming) tomorrow when we arrive for the first time.”
However Green again played down any benefit his Townsville-based side would have over their interstate rivals.
“I’d like to hope that we’re used to the heat, it’s been pretty hot up back home,” he said.
“But it gets hot enough in Brisbane as well, so I don’t think there’d be too much of an advantage.”
The Cowboys will finalise their build-up with a team dinner before looking to claim the club’s first premiership on Sunday.
“The boys have a good routine – a bit of recovery, a bit of massage … just basically take it easy,” he said.
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