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I haven’t written a lot about Johnathan Thurston on The Roar because he is featured constantly in the media and, really, what more is there you can say about him anyway? But I’ve got to break that rule today.
At times during the last six weeks, Thurston has looked worn out. Worn out, but still the greatest player in the world.
There have been times when he has got up slowly, after taking or making a tackle, and looked like an old man. Old man, but still the greatest player in the world.
And there have been times when his North Queensland side have absolutely, positively, needed him to deliver something special to help keep them in the competition and he has delivered.
Delivered, like the greatest player in the world.
Extra time against Brisbane, coming at the end of a fast-paced and very intense game as it did, should have been a big ask for a 33-year-old halfback who had given his all for the normal 80 minutes, as Thurston had at Townsville on Friday night.
And it no doubt was a big ask. But the only fact that matters is that it was not too big an ask. Not for Thurston, this incredible mortal who will no doubt be an Immortal one day.
Where does he get it? That ability to mentally and physically go again and come up with the massive play that ultimately makes the difference in a game.
To so correctly read everything that is in front of him in the opposition and know what everyone around him in his own team is capable of doing at that very instant that he presses the go button.
He sensed the chance was there to get around big Sam Thaiday, so he ran and beat him, and he must have known Michael Morgan was going to come back on the inside, so he found him with a flick pass.
It was a moment of magic. Sheer rugby league artistry. We have no right to expect it from Thurston, really, five minutes into extra time of an already tough slog, but we do. And he delivered. Yet again.
And I’m glad he did. Nothing against the Broncos, but I think it’s great that the Cowboys – and, most notably, Thurston – are still alive in this competition for at least another week, because as far as I’m concerned it’s the best possible result.
What an engine Thurston must have.
I want to see what he can do against Cronulla in Sydney on Friday night – whether the Cowboys will prevail again or whether the Sharks can stop their run.
Let’s face it, regardless of what the rest of the Cowboys do or what all of the Sharks do, the result is going to rest heavily on what Thurston either can or cannot do on the night.
Particularly if it comes right down to that one big play to separate the two teams.
It has been a fantastic finals series so far and it promises to get even better.
The top four from the regular season have made the last four of the finals series, which is how it looked like being unless the Broncos could break up that quartet.
They went mighty close, but then Thurston happened.
Now we’re left with two great preliminary final match-ups, Melbourne versus Canberra in Melbourne being the other one, on Saturday night. I’m tipping the Cowboys and Storm to win, but, hey, no promises.
The Raiders can’t afford to wait for something to happen against the Storm. They can’t just play the percentages.
The Storm are great in defence on their own line, so the Raiders must be proactive and attack them from a distance rather than hope for opposition errors or piggy-back penalties to get them down the other end of the field, where the Storm will confidently back themselves to hold them out.
It comes at the risk of turning the ball over in good field position for the Storm, but it’s a risk worth taking and the Raiders will know that because they challenged the Storm that way in their round-23 clash in Canberra and came away with a 22-8 win.
Opposition conservatism doesn’t win in Melbourne. Hope can’t succeed. You’ve got to have faith in what you believe you’re capable of doing. That’s your only chance.
The Sharks are certainly good enough to beat the Cowboys, but the best advice anyone can give them is that if they do get in front, don’t leave it close near the end.
Leave it close and you’re inviting Thurston to do something. That old bloke who sometimes looks worn out, but is still the best player in the world.
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