Australian Test halfback Johnathan Thurston won’t be banned from Queensland selection next year if he decides to defect to rugby union for 2011.
Thurston is off contract at North Queensland next season and has sent shockwaves through the NRL by declaring: “I could easily see myself being a Wallaby.”
His manager is currently entertaining offers from rival clubs and codes, with reports Thurston could earn over $1 million per season in rugby.
Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris says while a switch to rugby for Thurston would be very disappointing, it would not harm his chances of playing Origin for the Maroons next year.
“We can only pick them on their form next year, hopefully rugby league will keep him,” said Morris.
While Thurston’s comments could only be a smokescreen to beef up his NRL contract, his potential defection has the potential to destabilise the rampant Maroons Origin side.
With long-serving captain Darren Lockyer contemplating representative retirement this year, Thurston’s future could have serious ramifications for Queensland as they seek to extend their series dominance to five straight years.
The two-time Dally M winner and North Queensland captain is already under threat from Gold Coast halfback Scott Prince and Melbourne’s Test understudy Cooper Cronk.
If Lockyer and Thurston both depart selection reckoning, it would rob Queensland of one their most successful halves partnership.
Only Allan Langer and Wally Lewis (11 wins from 14 Origin games and four series wins) have a better record than the Thurston-Lockyer partnership which combined to win three series (2006-07 and 2009), winning seven of their 12 games in the halves.
“It could happen, but no-one’s bigger than that game,” said Morris, disappointed to hear Thurston openly talking about rugby union as an option.
“From a rugby league person I am disappointed that that’s how some players feel these days.”
Morris said selectors would respect Lockyer’s decision if he decided it was time to quit next year.
“Darren’s played well for so long for us but everyone has to retire at some stage,” he said.
“He has to look after his body as much as he can. He’s not a big guy and he’s done a great job forever, he has played over the last 10 to 12 years.
“We wouldn’t want him to go if he felt he’d done enough.
“Darren’s been the guy that’s made the difference in a lot of instances.
“But we’ve got some young players like Cooper Cronk and Scott Prince and others who you don’t look at because you don’t have to.”
Thurston said he had to do what was best for him and if that was playing rugby, he would.
“You don’t like hearing rugby league players saying that,” said Morris.
“It’s not as if some of these blokes are on struggle street.”
Jameswm
Guest
No crosscoder - the pieces of pie relate to income and percentages of income. What I said applies. I assume you didn't study accounting at uni.
Crosscoder
Guest
Maybe we should ask ,where all the money went after the 2003WC,when the ARU had about $43m in the coffers.Now down to low $20s. Even JON has commented that too much emphasis was placed on high profile rl players.A nice way of saying we spent too much on them.Being ever the diplomat as he can be.We know the ARC sucked up $8m,as a starting point. You don't have to be Wayne Swan to know any money taken out of a pie,is less money to be spent elsewhere eg giving high profile players bigger incentives not to go to France or Japan,and junior reps teams more tours and opportunities.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Their play this year has simply been woeful...and I'm a Wallabies fan.
Jameswm
Guest
Can I say this again - Thurston would NOT be taking money set aside for juniors/grass roots. The players earn a certain portion of the pie (as negotiated by RUPA) and the money set aside for development comes from a different slice of pie. Signing Thurston would mean the ARU have left money for the up and coming professional players, like Damien Fitzpatrick or Nick Cummins
Crosscoder
Guest
Judging by the paucity of talent in ru ranks,one suggests a rl scout, would have difficulty in finding more than a couple worthy of poaching.SA ru ranks a different kettle of fish.
jus de couchon
Guest
If I was to poach a player best suited to Rugby from League I would go for Slater.
Brett McKay
Expert
billo, Smith signed with the Roosters from junior rugby ranks, and as a Roosters supporting mate likes to tell me, they apparently "sent" him over to the UK to help learn the craft. Apparently. My point being that he played league for a few years only. As for the snobbish attitudes, well I can't speak for anyone else, but currently there's only a few NRL players that I think could adapt to the structures of rugby, and Thurston just isn't one of them..
Rod
Roar Guru
Man these players from different sports should just shut it and go if they think they're good enough, more youngsters coming through who would love a chance the shine whatever sport it is.
jimbo
Guest
Thurston is an exceptional footballer and wouldn't have much trouble converting to Union, although I think its part of a silent Dutch auction to get himself more money. Just waiting to see what Demetriou and the Gold Coast offer him . . . he can kick a ball.
Billo
Guest
I always find it funny to see my fellow rugby supporters' snobbish attitude to league on this site, but I suppose it reflects much of the rugby media. The idea seems to be that every league player who has switched codes has been a failure. That isn't quite the way I remember it. A lot of the interest generated in the World Cup was down to league signings, and most of them were fine players. Incidentally, being based in London I occasionally over the last few years have watched the Harlequins league club. One fairly average player who turned out for them was Tyrone Smith, who the club let go at the end of 2007. Not a bad player, but nothing special. So to see Tyrone turning out in the Wallabies' touring party this year was surprising, and suggests that even average league stars can make the grade to a very high level in rugby. There is no reason to think that Thurston wouldn't adapt well to the game, if he really wanted to, although I would advise him against a move, if only to avoid the knockers. Both rugby and league have some great players, and many of them would be able to succeed in either code with the right degree of coaching and preparation.
crashy
Guest
Mick - you're only as good as your last game and I seem to recall that the Wallabies silenced an 80,000 strong crowd with a devating scrum, crisp backline moves, aggressive forward play, glorious counter rucking and 4 wonderfully constructed tries.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
The current Wallabies don't have much of an idea about clearouts, decoy running and mauling either. Thurston would fit right in.
Crosscoder
Guest
Yeah stuff the grasroots,when you have no depth just dial a leaguie. And ru in this country wonders why it is dragging the chain. Development appears to be the number of chins one can grow,with all the social functions .
cookie
Guest
$1m for a half decent player or $1m for grassroots rugby? my bet is that he will bethe ARU's solution to rugby's dilemma! morons morons morons
Darwin hammer
Roar Rookie
Maddog - got to agree with you re this sounding nothing more than straight out of contract negotiations 101 ... but history certainly shows that you're wrong on "You won’t be guarenteed a spot in any side" ... plenty of big name RL players have been fast tracked into a Wallabies jersey and fallen well short ... if there's an ounce of truth in any of this (which I doubt) and he does make the leap to a S14 team - almost guarantee he'll be in the Wallabies before the end of the year ...
crashy
Guest
he has buckley's. Italian second tier maybe. Seriously who would pick him? his history is very dubious though he does has a nice step but leaguies need to change their mindset when playing rugby and realise that its the off the ball teamwork stuff that causes teams to win. Its the clearouts and the decoy running and mauling. Anyone that has a view that they deserve to be handed the ball on a platter does not understand the true team game that rugby is nor do they deserve to be part of the second biggest team sport in the world.
James D
Guest
Yeah he could be a Wallaby - i hear we need a waterboy
crashy
Guest
Agree completely maddog. Its like saying a good 20/20 cricket player would be good at test cricket.
crashy
Guest
No Justin I did not say that he is not good enough. Being good at league does not mean he will be good at rugby - we all know that. The ARU does not want him. The Super franchises will not pick him unless he proves himself overseas for a few years as a rugby player. He is clearly using rugby to bump up his salary and I dont like it.
Springs
Roar Guru
I'm guessing you follow Thurston's every move if you know his off-field behaviour that didn't get reported.