Need I mention one particular fact that a lot of people have overlooked?
Queensland won Origin this year ...
I don't think people appreciate how huge an impact this will have on selection ...
Need I mention one particular fact that a lot of people have overlooked?
Queensland won Origin this year ...
I don't think people appreciate how huge an impact this will have on selection ...
Many thanks to Super Cronk for the great banner!
DeeGan,Originally Posted by DeeGan
It is obvious I rate Scott Prince's ability higher then you do. I know you still rate him as a player but I feel you and a lot of others do under rate is ability in the halves.
You did mention his time at 5/8 and I can imagine Prince and Campbell swapping roles on the field while playing for the Titans.
Originally Posted by Chaos
I'm not so sure they would go well if they swapped roles. I think Prince plays better at half now that he has had a lot more experience there. He used to be a better 5/8, but I think he needs to be the main controller now.
:beer: :naughty:
Exactly, Prince played well against France, but was not given a very good opportunity to shine against GB.Originally Posted by DeeGan
I think Gower is overrated at halfback. I think he is better suited to hooker.
:beer: :naughty:
Thurston eyes Australian jersey
Saturday, September 2, 2006 - 4:11 PM
North Queensland star Johnathan Thurston has his sights set on retaining his treasured Australian jersey after making a successful return from a knee injury on Friday night.
Thurston played a leading role in the Cowboys' final round 22-8 NRL win over Parramatta at Dairy Farmers Stadium despite it being his first game in six weeks.
The 23-year-old feared his season was over when he dislocated a kneecap and copped grade three medial ligament strain in round 20.
But Thurston was buoyed by the way his knee stood up against the Eels and took aim at the Kangaroos' vacant No.7 jersey.
Thurston, who made his international debut against New Zealand earlier this year, is locked in a tense four-way tussle for the right to replace Andrew Johns as Australian halfback in this year's Tri-Nations.
Melbourne's Cooper Cronk, Manly's Matt Orford, Penrith's Craig Gower and Thurston are set to duke it out for the coveted role.
Thurston said he was ready for another taste of international rugby league and will be named in the Kangaroos' initial train-on squad on Monday.
The initial squad will be comprised of players from teams that failed to make the finals and is likely to contain fellow Cowboys Luke O'Donnell, Carl Webb and Matt Bowen.
"The knee pulled up pretty good," Thurston said.
"It was very good during the game. I tested it out a few times and I'm pretty confident with it. There's not fitness like match fitness."
Thurston's combination with certain Australian selections Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith during this year's triumphant State of Origin series win for Queensland should hold him in good stead.
Thurston said the knee provided no problems against the Eels.
"You can't worry about it or you'll probably get injured again," he said.
"I was pretty confident going into the game with it and there were no signs of weakness or anything there. The way it pulled up I'm very happy."
Thurston is in line to take over from Travis Norton as skipper next season with hooker Aaron Payne another candidate.
Norton (retirement), Matt Sing (Hull) and Josh Hannay (Cronulla) played their final games for the club on Friday night.
Norton said he feared his last shoulder separation, against the Bulldogs in round 22, would cost his "fairytale" farewell on Friday night.
"I was a bit concerned," Norton said.
"There was a couple of weeks in a row where I'd injured my shoulder and after talking to the specialist I found out that I had to have surgery.
"But in saying that he said if you leave it for a little while, see how we go and try and get some strength into it. Fortunately I came through alright."
Source: AAP
Johnathan Thurston will be out future long term halfback for mine - he has it all.
It was hard to rank him ahead of Orford given his lack of playing time of late though he was very good in his come back to rugby league on Friday night. He will make the squad and then duke it out with the others for the coveted number seven jersey.