NRL: Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston endorses ‘calm‘ Hannay
The greatest Cowboy of all time has given a vote of confidence to interim head coach and former teammate Josh Hannay after his first game in charge of the club.
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The greatest Cowboy of all time has given a vote of confidence to interim head coach and former teammate Josh Hannay after his first game in charge of the club.
The Cowboys lacked the polish to overcome Manly in Townsville last week but never surrendered in a hard-fought 24-12 loss, capping off a dramatic week in which ex-assistant Hannay replaced Paul Green in the top job, after the premiership-winning mentor’s seven-season reign at North Queensland ended last week.
While Hannay could not kickstart his head coaching career with a win, Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston heaped praise upon the former Queensland Maroons’ centre, with whom he spent two NRL seasons at the Cowboys in 2005 and 2006, which included the club’s first grand final in 2005.
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Thurston said Hannay had served a long enough apprenticeship to become a head coach in the NRL and tipped his laid-back demeanour to have a profound impact on North Queensland’s young playing group.
“I know he’s very excited about what lies ahead and no doubt, knowing Josh, he’s learned a lot under Greeny as well, with the work ethic and putting plans in place,” he said.
“He’s a great coach, he’s very relaxed.
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“I think that will have a really calming influence on the group, having someone of his personality at the helm over the next nine weeks of the competition.”
Thurston said Hannay should have first crack at the head coaching role and would have the rest of the season to prove himself as the long-term candidate for the role.
“He’s got a great opportunity now to put his best foot forward,” Thurston said.
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“This is a moment that he’s probably been waiting for the last 10 years, since he’s been going on that coaching role, so he’s got a real opportunity here to put his best foot forward and really lead this team over the next eight weeks.
“If they can start stringing a few wins together, then no doubt that’s going to help him when the process of hiring a coach comes about.”
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The last time the Cowboys were on the hunt for a new head coach — following the departure of Neil Henry in 2013 — they took a chance on Green, who at the time had no NRL head-coaching experience.
The decision, which ultimately delivered the club’s maiden premiership and another grand final appearance in 2017, could pave the way for the club to take the rookie route with one of their former clubmen again.
Originally published as NRL: Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston endorses ‘calm‘ Hannay