Anthony Milford is the right man to step into Johnathan Thurston’s shoes for Origin 1

GLASS half-full or half-empty? Johnathan Thurston may be missing from Origin 1 but his replacement in Anthony Milford is one of the game’s greatest young talents.

THE glass half-full take on Johnathan Thurston’s withdrawal from the State of Origin series opener this Wednesday is that Anthony Milford has some priceless clear air.

Milford has been in the centre of a ridiculous tug of war between Queensland and Broncos coach Wayne Bennett in the past week with Thurston in doubt due to a shoulder injury.

If it is not hard enough trying to prepare for an Origin debut that might or might not happen, having your club coach carry on with disruptive NSW-like behaviour would only add to your anxiety.

It’s the last thing he needed and Bennett should know that having coached Queensland in 22 Origins.

State comes before club. Maroons coach Kevin Walters no longer works for Bennett who should stop acting like he is still Kevvie’s boss.

Johnathan Thurston and Anthony Milford share a joke at Origin training.

Milford now knows he will play after Thurston and Maroons medical staff made the call on Thursday morning.

Having JT in camp will be a wonderful bonus for Milford.

He will get a crash course of being an Origin playmaker from one of the best to ever pull on a maroon jersey.

Having Cooper Cronk playing inside him will also be a massive help. Cronk can run the side and Milford can play with his brilliant, matchwinning instincts.

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His focus has narrowed and has the best part of a week to prepare for the game of his life.

If Brisbane held on in the 2015 NRL grand final, Milford would have been the Clive Churchill Medallist so the big stage does not frighten him.

He was superb against the West Tigers last week so he goes into the match in red-hot form.

He is only 22 but if you are good enough, you are old enough. And his very best footy is certainly good enough.

Anthony Milford has been in top form in recent weeks.

But of course there is a glass half-empty take with no JT.

With Thurston sidelined, the Maroons lose 36 games of Origin experience. That’s 36-staright games too.

The last time Queensland played with no Thurston in the side was July 7, 2004 when Darren Lockyer and Scott Prince were the halves in a series decider at Homebush.

No Thurston comes on top of no Billy Slater, no Greg Inglis and no Matt Scott.

That’s 115 games of Origin experience between those four Origin stalwarts alone.

There is no shortage of been-there-done-that hardheads in the Maroons squad that can go a long way towards covering that loss with the likes of Cronk, Cam Smith, Sam Thaiday, Darius Boyd and Nate Myles.

Plenty of pressure rests on Anthony Milford’s shoulders. Pics Adam Head

Thurston’s unparalleled competitive drive and sublime skills are irreplaceable though. His never-say-die attitude epitomises the Queensland spirit.

There’s only one JT.

But there is also only one Milf too. NSW would kill to have a player of his immense talent at their disposal.

Queensland is in young but capable hands. All the greats started somewhere. Thurston had to make his debut too.