His Gold Coast teammate Ash Taylor admits he is starry-eyed ahead of Johnathan Thurston’s final game but Titans prop Jarrod Wallace simply wants the North Queensland great to see stars this weekend.
Both Taylor and Wallace have vowed to ruin the Cowboys’ farewell for Thurston when the veteran playmaker bows out in his 323rd and final NRL match at a sold out Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
However they will be taking very different approaches.
Titans halfback Taylor sounded more like a gushing fan, not ruling out asking Thurston for an autograph after the historic match.
“I might have to get him to sign my jersey, bit of memorabilia,” Taylor laughed.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will until we don’t see him running around next year.
“It will be different without him in the NRL. He has been such a role model growing up not just for me but a generation of younger players.”
Asked if he wanted to sabotage his idol’s day, Taylor said: “That’s the plan.”
Wallace hoped to take a more direct route to Thurston, saying he would not be taking it easy on his former Queensland teammate.
“No, I won’t and I can assure you he wouldn’t have it any other way. If he is in the vicinity we will be all over him,” Wallace said.
“We want to make sure his last game is not a boring one.
“We will do our best to make sure we send him out on a loss and make sure he remembers and feels every second of the game then afterward we can catch up and have a beer.”
Wallace said the Gold Coast were revelling in the hype surrounding Thurston before their NRL season finale, expecting it to play into their hands in front of more than 27,000 fans – the club’s first sell out crowd in their 11 year history.
“We are just going about our business and doing our own thing. The good thing is the spotlight is off us – it is all on them,” Wallace said.
“We are happy with that. It makes our job easier.
“We want to make sure our last game is a big one.
“We have 27,000 fans there who will make sure Thurston has a memorable game off the field – we want it to be a memorable game for us on the field.”
Rob
Guest
Holmes is coming. I certainly hope Barba isn’t.
Concerned Observer
Roar Rookie
Believe it was done to give Clifford finals experience in a he Qcup as the dominant half; think he’ll definitely be in the run on side with morgo and I’ve just learned probably Barba at full back
3 R M
Guest
Agreed Nat I had the feeling clifford was just about to cut loose we really haven't seen him play nrl when he's firing he's such a threat close to the line at first receiver. But he'll give the Pride a great shot at the QLD premiership the top 6 are very close so his goal & tactical kicking plus his running threat could get them home .but his exclusion from the gold Coast game leaves the cowboys without a long tactical kicker at the least so Jt will be the only target on the 5th, I'm sure he'll step up & he'll have a blinder.
Nat
Roar Guru
Add young Jake Turpin, you'll see start at Hooker for the Bronco this w/end, and there's another gen spine. You know, after Ponga, Munster, Morgan, Macca.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Three of those blokes are the future of the game Nat - scary how many good young halves QLD have. Groan!
Nat
Roar Guru
Not a chance. Still cannot fathom why Green left Clifford out of this team. How good would it have been to see Brimson and Taylor against Clifford and JT.