Cowboys coach Paul Green has been urged to move Johnathan Thurston to halfback

COWBOYS coach Paul Green has been urged to move Johnathan Thurston to halfback to spark a team labelled a disorganised mess.

COWBOYS coach Paul Green has been urged to move Johnathan Thurston to halfback to spark a team labelled a disorganised mess.

Former Origin trio Matthew Johns, Scott Hill and Jamie Soward say the Cowboys would be more formidable in Friday night’s clash with the Broncos if Thurston was wearing the No. 7 jumper. Their appraisal was backed by Queensland legend Wally Lewis, who said the Cowboys’ search for a dominant hooker was influencing Thurston’s efforts at five-eighth.

Thurston tormented the Kiwis in Australia’s 30-18 Test victory on Friday night but his displays at pivot this season for the Cowboys have been patchy in a side sitting in 12th spot.

Cowboys' Johnathan Thurston line’s the ball up to take a conversion.

Statistics show Thurston performs better at halfback, and Hill is adamant he needs to be at first receiver to improve the Cowboys’ structure.

“They look very disorganised,” said Hill, the former NSW and Test five-eighth. “Their timing is out. There are a lot of things (wrong).

“JT’s natural game is playing on the front foot and attacking forwards when they are tired.

“I feel he’s not doing that as much as he should and it could be because he’s playing too wide of the ruck. It could be a better thing to put the seven on his back and have him play in the middle third of the field.’’

Former NSW pivot Johns said halfbacks remain the playmaking kings in an era of left and right-sided halves.

Johnathan Thurston during a Kagaroos training session.

“As much as people say left and right, six and seven are the same these days – it’s not true. There is a difference,’’ Johns told Triple M. “When the No. 7 is on your back, there is greater responsibility.’’

Penrith pivot Soward added: “I’d like to see Thurston go back to halfback and put the team on his shoulders again.

“I know ‘JT’ will play six for Queensland but for North Queensland he needs to be in the No.7.’’

Lewis said Green should not hit the panic button but believed there was merit in moving Thurston to halfback.

“If he’s in the No. 7 jersey, the entire game will centre around him,’’ he said. “He will lead from the front and the troops will follow. But if you move Thurston, who do the Cowboys play at five-eighth?’’