NRL 2023: Why Chad Townsend can follow in footsteps of Johnathan Thurston for North Queensland Cowboys
A record-breaking pre-season has Chad Townsend determined to mirror the GOAT and keep the Cowboys firing deep into the finals. Read why he can do it:
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CHAD Townsend is in the best shape of his career as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of greatness by leading North Queensland to a premiership at the age of 32.
Johnathan Thurston was the best footballer on the planet at the same age, winning Dally M Player of the Year and the Clive Churchill Medal as best on ground in the 2015 grand final win.
Townsend, who turned 32 in January, is nearer to the end of his NRL career than the start but is determined to draw inspiration from the future immortal and greats of international sport like Tom Brady and LeBron James to keep the Cowboys firing deep into the longest NRL season in history.
The Cowboys No.7 produced the fastest 1.2km time trial of his career this pre-season, timing in at a personal best 4 minutes and 40 seconds.
He insists that preparation will be the key to stave off regression and continue delivering well into his 30s.
“I’m always been someone who enjoys looking after my body and I still have the deep burning desire to compete and play,” Townsend declared.
“I understand that I'm getting closer to the end than the start but yeah, I think just looking after myself away from football. I have a young family and I know what I need to do to prepare myself.
“Athletes right across the world, the way that they look after themselves and what they do away from the game with their spare time and looking after their mind is something I’m really into.
“I’m really comfortable with what I do at the moment and what I need to do to get the best out of myself. I’ve really still got that fire to both train and play and continue to try and get better.”
Townsend will be the third-oldest halfback in action this weekend, trailing Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans and Warrior Shaun Johnson, but coach Todd Payten sees no signs of regression in his chief playmaker.
“There’s no reason why he can’t continue to play well for us for a while,” Payten said.
“Chad has been doing the same as everyone else. The way he prepares week after week, he’s first class.
“He hasn’t had a major injury challenge throughout his career, so fingers crossed he doesn’t have to face one.”
Townsend found career-best form under Payten at the Cowboys in 2022.
He credited the club’s coaching staff for finding the right balance between hard work and rest in tricky conditions.
“Every club trains hard, anyone can flog you as a player but it’s really ‘Are you getting better as a player,’ that’s the important question,” Townsend said.
“The coaching staff is definitely one of the best I’ve had.
“I’ve really enjoyed being coached here by the coaches and the performance staff and I’ve got full confidence what they give us as players gives us the best chance of winning every single week.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Why Chad Townsend can follow in footsteps of Johnathan Thurston for North Queensland Cowboys
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