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So, what about JT?

Roar Rookie
29th September, 2017
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The Cowboys were exposed without Thurston's leadership. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Roar Rookie
29th September, 2017
5

With the Cowboys’ fairytale season soon wrapping up this coming Sunday, it begs a very important question – where does this leave Johnathan Thurston?

After these heroic three weeks, the Cowboys have beaten fifth, fourth and second-placed teams, admirably without their co-captains, and in my opinion, the greatest player of all time, Johnathan Thurston. So, after seeing these amazing scenes unfold, I’ve been pondering the legacy of the one and only JT.

In the NBA, success is measured with Championships. Michael Jordan is rightfully regarded as the GOAT of basketball with six Championship rings from six finals appearances. The record speaks for itself. However, the surge of LeBron James has altered many basketball experts’ opinions.

Despite this, the debate always comes back to one factor – success.

Shaquille O’Neill says that LeBron James will not come close to Jordan until he wins three more Championships. So, taking this theory, what happens if the Cowboys win their second premiership this Sunday? Will JT still be regarded as one of the greats of our game? Or does it show that he is not so special after all?

For years, rugby league pundits and experts alike have labelled the Cowboys a one-man team behind Thurston, with their premiership credentials questioned every team he goes down injured. Even in Round 2 when Matt Scott went down injured against the Broncos, many ruled a line through their season, with the props injury hampered with the recent loss of James Tamou.

However, when Thurston squabbled during the final moments of Origin II this year, leading Queensland to a famous victory, he knew his season was over. Joey Johns called him a busted man and ruled him out of the year almost immediately as he saw JT holding his shoulder in agony. With a shoulder reconstruction needed, his season, and Cowboys season, seemed over.

Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston

(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

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Since being ruled out from Round 16, the Cowboys won back-to-back games against early season premiership favourites Penrith and Canberra. Hope was alive and it seemed that a top-four finish was possible. However, five losses from their last six games seemed to restore order to the rugby league world.

JT was a great once again.

But the resurgence in confidence and hope shown in these finals by players such as Michael Morgan, Jason Taumalolo and Gavin Cooper illustrates that the Cowboys are still a very very good team. In particular, the emergence of Morgan as a dominant playmaker and a world class half exhibits that without JT, Morgan has been able to make the Cowboys his own and dominate the game, with his short kicking game a major highlight.

Also, the recruitment of Te Maire Martin mid-season was a match made in heaven for North Queensland, as his quick feet and running game compliment Morgan to a tea.

It has also been the hard workers like Kane Linnet, Scott Bolton and Shaun Fensom stepping out of their shells and showcasing their abilities, that has lifted this Cowboys side into premiership contention. And I believe its the free-styled nature that Morgan plays with that allows this to happen.

Now, I’m not saying that Johnathan Thurston isn’t one of the greatest players ever to play rugby league if the Cowboys win the grand final. In my eyes, he is the GOAT, without question. But, does a second premiership in three years, without JT, make him less valuable?

What do you think Roarers?

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