Heading into Round 12, North Queensland sit in 15th spot on the ladder with six points. It’s fair to say that for the Cowboys to play finals in September, they will require some sort of miracle – or an epic turnaround in form.
2018 has been a rollercoaster from Round 1 so it’s almost too easy to forget that heading into this season the narrative was that the Cowboys were going to win the premiership after their gritty and spirited performances last year which saw them make the grand final.
Matt Scott was meant to return from injury and bolster the Cowboys forward pack. Michael Morgan was meant to have continued the form which saw him lead the Cowboys to the grand final last year and Johnathan Thurston was meant to slot back into the side, recovered from that shoulder injury almost as good as new.
This hasn’t happened and I don’t think it’s going to.
As difficult as this is to write, the shoulder injury which sidelined Thurston last year has impacted his game in a way that none of us could have predicted.
Thurston will go down in NRL history as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. He has become an ornament of the sport – not just an immensely talented player and a family man, but also one that has become a passionate advocate for the issues in the game that mean the most to him, particularly recognition of our First Nations people.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
This article is not meant to detract from this. Thurston will always be a champion. But he is no longer having the same impact on the field as he once had and he has no idea what to do to fix it.
I’m not sure he can.
There are some players that have long careers in our game because they are clever footy players who, over time, develop a plan to overcome lessening in one skill by complementing it with another. Billy Slater is a great example of this. He knew he couldn’t rely on his speed forever, so he has become a playmaker and this season we’ve seen the introduction of a kicking game into his wide skill set.
The difference between this and the situation that JT now finds himself in is that Slater had the benefit of time.
Thurston has not. This change has happened so quickly. He has come back from an injury and suddenly, what once worked isn’t working anymore.
Perhaps for the first time in his career, him having the ball in his hands less in the answer.
Throughout his career, Thurston has become known as a game changer. I’ve seen it on countless occasions when the Cowboys have been down by a try or two and something shifts – Thurston decides that he is going to win the game. And he did.
But he has tried this a couple of times this year and it just hasn’t worked. Take the Cowboys’ loss to the Brisbane Broncos by 24-20. JT did everything in his power to win that game and he just couldn’t. He did come close with an inside ball with 90 seconds to go to Scott Bolton. Unfortunately, the goal post had other ideas.
After the game he looked dejected… and lost.
For the first time, the short ball to Gavin Cooper isn’t consistently producing results. Thurston playing both sides of the ruck and going to the line isn’t working either. He has lost some of his speed. He is also holding off slightly in defence.
It is a perfect storm for the Cowboys. Thurston’s decline in form has also coincided with that of other players.
Scott has not had the same impact this year (and he may find himself sidelined for an extended period after potentially doing a medial ligament in the game against the Rabbitohs). Morgan has been unable to recapture last year’s form. Coen Hess, while potent in attack, is struggling in defence and Ethan Lowe for some reason has been playing limited minutes and this week was dropped.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
For the longest time, North Queensland have been a team that has been built around Johnathan Thurston, a side that is focused on power and strength rather than speed. This dip in form for some players and the focus on power and strength has meant the Cowboys’ ball movement is slow across the board, so they are getting jammed by the defensive line early and often.
It’s no surprise that the injection of some young players added some energy into the squad this weekend with Francis Molo, Enari Tuala and Corey Jensen all coming in just before half-time. These players are part of the Cowboys’ future.
It’s now time for North Queensland to start preparing for that future without players like JT and Scott.
Not for one moment am I suggesting that JT should be dropped. He is still an excellent halfback and he is also a champion. Dropping him is also not going to change how he plays footy.
There just needs to be some understanding that he is not the player that he was.
As for the Cowboys, I am calling this season for them. That gives them an opportunity now to look toward the future and give some of the next generation a chance to come in and get some first-grade experience before a fresh start to 2019.
The Barry
Roar Guru
But what to do with poor Jason? Too crazy for Boys Town, too much of a boy for Crazy Town. The child was an outcast. So, we did the only humane thing. We chained Him up in the attic like an animal and fed him a bucket of fish heads once a week.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Wait a second... You’re always sticking up for BJ Jason....BigJ Both love boxing Both have the grammar and vocabulary of a six year old Both like to show off they know you start at 1 when counting If I didn’t know better....
The Barry
Roar Guru
You understand him because you’re as thick as him... 1. Am is simple or am I complicated...? They mean opposite things 2. “You have obviously never heard the phrase heart says yes head says no” Well I have, but Bajina didn’t use that expression so I don’t know what it’s got to do with anything. 3. Thurston’s body (of course working on the assumption that one’s body is a distinct entity capable of communicating independent thought and will) said “yes” AND his head said “yes” to playing on so the phrase is achingly irrelevant here anyway. 4. “I and probably the rest of the roar understood what you said” The rest of the roar and I. 5. “No need to worry about that sad pathetic man” If there’s no need to worry why are you stalking me and sticking your snout into things that don’t concern you...?
Mushi
Guest
Why would he want to? That's entirely up to him, perhaps he likes playing rugby-league? One thing is for certain, it should not be up to you
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Your a very sad andcomplicated man Barry!!! Seriously how can you not understand what he is saying.?? You have obviously never heard the phrase heart says yes head says no. BigJ don't worry mate, I and probably the rest of the roar understood what you said, Barry is obviously a simple man that is completely jealous of you. It clear as day, he belittles you at every opportunity because he is jealous of you, simple as that. No need to worry about that sad pathetic man.
R N
Roar Rookie
You read pigeon posts well Rob! My iphone inferface is the equilivent of the Cows 5th tackle options, inconsistent and in need of replacement!
Dodgy dragons
Guest
The problem with the cowboys doesn’t just sit with Thurston, it is the whole squad. Sure he has played better and he isn’t putting his body on the line like he used too, but the rest of the squad are underperforming. The forwards aren’t getting the go forward they usually get and the back line would have to be one of the slowest in the comp. They are dropping a lot of ball/silly errors and maybe the rest of the comp has improved. We have to remember that they only made the semis last year because the dragons choked against the dogs so their form hasn’t been red hot for a couple of years now. He can only do what he can do with the ordinary platfom laid out for him and his numbers are pretty good compared to other halves, it’s the other 16 and the coach’s game plan that is letting the cows down. It’s a bit harsh to lay the blame on Jts shoulders and I’m not one of biggest fans, although I do love the intense ness he brings to the game, a true competitor.
Rob
Guest
Yep. JT is the alpha and it is what it is. I think the whole playing group is disillusioned with what they doing. They reinvented themselves last year. They have gone backwards and they know it.
Rob
Guest
I don’t think money is an issue. I think he is playing this year for some personal goals like 300 games and having a fairy tale GF send off. I hope people weren’t in his ear urging him on for marketing reasons. Right now he has ticked off one but the second is a pipe dream. When JT and Coote signed for another year the Cowboys lost Ponga’s signature. It was a stupid decision that put the past before the future. JT was never fit to play SOO last year but he convinced everyone he was ready to go. I believe he’s has struggled with the reality of retirement but unfortunately the people around him haven’t been honest enough to tell him the truth.
R N
Roar Rookie
Not sure ornament is the best adjective.... looking good and serving no practical purpose is what lockyer does! Sorry... you meant ornament as a vessel of worship. My bad. Although... that is part of the problem isnt it! How do you tell God that his (or her) kicking game has become as ineffective as blocker roach in commentry? Thurston still has plenty to offer but may be he just needs to take a back seat a little. He has seemed reluctant to give up the alpha. Some would say that Mogans form has been so bad that he cant... but i actually think that Morgans form has been poor because he wont.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Nah mate, your dead right! He should have given it away after his 300th and that game wasn’t a great victory either. Despite Thurston getting the job done in attack, it makes little difference when you aren’t winning. Why would he want to continue with a record of 3-8, the season is not even halfway over and you can already start putting a line through their season. Why keep playing when you only going to lose each week. They’ll probably win against the Storm this week but that would probably be on of their last wins of the season
3 recalcitrant monkeys
Guest
He is 5th in all run meters for the season ? In a cluster behind a freakish Blake Ferguson.
Jeffrey Lebowski
Guest
Hahaha bj’s at it again
The Barry
Roar Guru
So you’re 36 but your mind thinks you’re 19. But then your body reminds you how old you are...does your body remind both of you or just you and you have to remind your mind? Sounds crowded in there... Even though your mind got your age wrong by 17 years I still think it overshot by about 13 years...
Rob
Guest
I was very concerned at the start of this season about how Morgan could go back to playing outside JT after taking the team to last years GF. Last year when every Cowboys supporter wept and wrote the season off I was excited to see the future and what talented youngsters like Morgan, Martin, Ponga and Asiata could bring to the attack.
Rob
Guest
Exactly. His form has been in decline since 2015. This season he has been an absolute liability in defence and has little to offer running the ball not only because of his shoulder injuries but simply Father Time has caught up with him. He’s had a great career but he’s been unable to let go. The Cowboys are now paying a huge price for the euphoria surrounding the GF win 3 years ago.
BigJ
Roar Guru
That’s not nice Con, thought we were mates. Seriously though I’m speaking from experience I myself am only five months post op from a pectoral rapture. I lost a heap of fitness the recovery is not great and I’ve gained weight. My mind thinks I’m 19 but my body constantly reminds me that I’m 36. Being only a little older than Jt I know what he went through and you can’t bounce back that quickly in your mind 30s. It’s just common sense
Larry1950
Guest
As once attributed to Mark Twain, "reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated". While JT has not reached the stellar form of a few seasons back, he is certainly not the cowboy's main issue in their losing run of late. Had Granville stayed back on the line for half a second longer & Souths had missed the field goal snap, we would have been talking about JT's brilliance in manouevering the Cowboys in position for that 'winning' field goal. Their problem seems to be threefold: 1 a glaring lack of pace right across the backline (O'neill & Winterstein in particular) 2 lack of input at various times from Coote & Morgan because of their injuries this year 3 the forward pack revamping being hampered by Mclean's injury & Scott's slower recovery Remember, they were only a St George implosion away from missing the final 8 last season & then made a run to the GF with nothing to lose football.
Don
Roar Rookie
Lacks enthusiasm? The guy is clearly busting a gut. He’s shattered when they lose. And he’s pumping his troops up at every opportunity. The side is lacking cohesion and there’s a lot more dropped ball and poor passing than seen in previous seasons. But Thurston doesn’t look to be unenthusiastic?
Nat
Roar Guru
Yet he is on the same trend for his attacking stats as 2015 while only slightly down on defensive numbers. Will he win a 6th Dally M, probably not. Is he in the top 3 in the game from a poorly performing team - easily.