Panthers playmaker Jamie Soward admits to following Johnathan Thurston’s every move

JAMIE Soward is fully aware of the massive task the Panthers face when they travel to North Queensland. But the playmaker has left no stone unturned in his preparation.

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - APRIL 03: Jamie Soward and Isaah Yeo of the Panthers celebrate after team mate Bryce Cartwright scores the winning try during the round five NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers at Pirtek Stadium on April 3, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

JAMIE Soward won’t be able to use lack of preparation as an excuse against Johnathan Thurston this weekend — he’s the only player the Penrith star watches every single week.

The buoyant Panthers take on North Queensland at Pepper Stadium on Saturday, giving them little time to bask in their last-second 20-18 victory over local rivals Parramatta.

Soward was prominent against the Eels, with the game on the line.

Jamie Soward celebrates the Panthers’ last-gasp win over the Eels.

Although he missed a potential game-equalling sideline conversion with four minutes to go, he provided the cross-field kick that set up the Panthers’ matchwinning try in the final play of the match.

Winger Waqa Blake plucked the ball out of the sky and offloaded to Bryce Cartwright to crash over and score.

While it was only their second win of the season, all five of the Panthers’ games in 2016 have been decided in the final five minutes.

“We’ve been building towards a win like that for the last month,” Soward said.

“We’ve been in tight games pretty much to start the year. So it’s nice to be able to finish a game off and get the win.

“Our fans, for the first month, I think have seen a team that’s different from the last couple of years.

Johnathan Thurston in action against the Dragons.

“We are competing right to the last bell. We’ve been in five games. It’s just unfortunate that we’re two and three. We could possibly be 5-0, or 0-5.”

The Panthers will have to improve again when Thurston and the Cowboys visit, fresh off their 36-0 win over St George Illawarra.

“He’s the best. He’s the best,” Soward said of Thurston.

“I like playing against JT. I’ve got a lot of respect from him.

“He’s the only player I watch every week. Regardless of where I am I make time to watch JT play.”

Soward isn’t naive enough to believe that will give him an added advantage in containing the premiership-winning halfback.

“Come Saturday I’ve just got to go out there and compete, steer the team around, concentrate on my own game and hopefully, if I do that, we will be on the right end of the result,” Soward said.

Originally published as Panthers playmaker Jamie Soward admits to following Johnathan Thurston’s every move