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Will Jonathan Thurston mature in 2008?

January 18, 2008

Jonathan ThurstonHe has already been crowned the new king of Rugby League. Jonathan Thurston is commonly rated above the likes of the talented Darren Lockyer and quickly became ‘the best player in the world’ when Andrew Johns retired from NRL Rugby League.

There is no doubting that Jonathan Thurston is an NRL footballer with the highest skill level and quality about his game. Often able to create attacking raids from nothing, his fleet of foot and impressive short and long passing game always has the Cowboys on the front foot and regularly tearing teams apart.

JT also has a top kicking game in his bag of tricks, gaining massive meters for the North Queensland side and bagging plenty of 40/20’s which prove so valuable in todays game.

Seemingly improving each year Jonathan Thurston has been the crux of the Cowboys high riding results over the past few years, oh how the Bulldogs would be ruing the day they let JT go - proving to be a massive mistake for the now struggling Belmore club.

If there is one fault with JT’s game, it’s his tendancy to ‘blow up’ or have the occasional brain snap, which is often directed at referees and even his fellow players at times. The smarter, more experienced players know the way to beat Thurston is to unsettle his game and talk a little trash to get under his skin.

During 2007, this worked quite regularly. While Thurston was still a superpower in many games, too often he was wasting his breath debating referees or getting himself sinbinned over silly tactics.

It would be hard for any coach to put a harness on someone like Thurston, nor would they want to - but if someone doesn’t give Thurston the good oil and get him to tone things down, he risks becoming a burdon on his Cowboys team and possibly hurting his chances of future rep jerseys.

It might seem a steep call to hold JT back from rep duties, but when you consider the likes of his competitiors - you have Scott Prince and a host of others waiting for their chance.

Passion itself is one of Jonathan Thurstons biggest assets, but too much of a good thing can be the worst thing in the world and if JT doesn’t put the brakes on the bad stuff in 2008 he could find his mob sliding out of contention along with his reputation.



Written by NRL News · Filed Under NRL Editorials 

Comments

18 Responses to “Will Jonathan Thurston mature in 2008?”

  1. jackson on April 28th, 2008 11:11 am

    Jonathan Thurston is hands down the best rugby league player in the game.He and matt bowen have 1 of the best combinations of the common error.He will easily mature this year and will hopefuly lead the cowboys to a premiership and will probly get leading point scorer and get the dally m for the 3rd year straight.

  2. sara on June 2nd, 2008 2:46 pm

    i need 2 speak 2 jonathan thurston because i am his long lost sister. my name is DANNI

  3. Merissa Lyons on June 13th, 2008 4:47 pm

    i think jt is soo hott brahh

    ilyxx

    =]

  4. Haley on June 27th, 2008 7:59 pm

    JT is the hottest footballer around!!

  5. Amber on July 5th, 2008 7:08 pm

    welll.. im madly in love with you. you are definately the best footy player around:) i do love you.. Amber

  6. Kahlem on July 15th, 2008 1:11 pm

    JT is my favourite player and he is the BEST player of all time, and he is getting better by each match he plays. I hope the Cowboys do well next season. JT and Matty Bowen have the best combination in the league and Matt Bowen should be the Queensland fullback because he is such an exciting player and him and JT have such an awesome combination. Go the Cowboys in 2009!!!

  7. not tellin on July 17th, 2008 12:08 pm

    god he’s freakishly HOT

  8. Jade on July 19th, 2008 7:22 pm

    JT is a great player and he will always matter!!!!!!!!
    GO THE COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From your #1 fan Jade.

  9. brock hadley on July 29th, 2008 4:56 pm

    wwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppppppppppppp JT. u da bomb. im youre biggest fan. call my mobile on 0406605393 youre awasome love to hear from ya

  10. Saffysaurus on August 7th, 2008 11:18 am

    JONATHAN YOU’RE SUCH A GOOD PLAYER AND ILY SO MUCH!!! ROCK ON YOU AND MATT ARE AWESOMELY RADICAL AND ILY BOTH.

    XXXXXXX
    YOUR BIGGEST FAN.
    SAFFRRON.
    xxxxxxxxx

  11. clinton on September 7th, 2008 2:03 pm

    jt u r da best player in da whole entire world and da best kicker!!!!!!!

    UR BIGGEST FAN EVA N ALWAYS WILL BE CLINTON. oh and say hi 2 matt bowen 4 me

  12. Ruth on October 6th, 2008 9:09 pm

    Hey JT thanks for being such a great friend on board po ship 3 years ago and inviting me to join u for dinner, u are a legend, and u deserve and wish u every success in obtaining your rightly deserved no.7 2008 world cup jersey. You are the best football player going around , and a perfect gentleman and dear friend as well. Take care. Ruthie

  13. justin on October 21st, 2008 4:25 pm

    hi you rock

  14. sam kerr on October 25th, 2008 2:00 pm

    Hi John its me Sam Shilling! Just noting that training is on tomorrow morning 7:30 till 12:00 and lunch after. Ricky said you are in for a hard session and he said to say get to the Sydney football stadium at 7:00 cause he need to speak to you privately anyway i will see you then from Sam!

  15. sam kerr on October 25th, 2008 2:04 pm

    Hi its me Sam again Ricky just canceled tomorrows session cause some teams are playing games and other teams are training there in the morning so i guess ill see you next week from Sam Shilling!

  16. dylan on October 29th, 2008 11:53 am

    hey
    how u going u play awsome in the world cup.your playing awsome as

    laters jt

    ur the best from dylan

  17. theMRSthurston on October 30th, 2008 3:54 pm

    Johnathan Thurston,
    Is the hottest footy player in the world.
    I plan to marry him (:
    Signed; The real Mrs Thurston.

  18. Jake on November 12th, 2008 12:39 pm

    aii man your a mad footy player
    i love watching you play

    cya man

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