Queensland Origin stars Johnathan Thurston, Justin Hodges impress NRL fans

THEY’VE got bigger assignments next Wednesday but Maroons State of Origin big guns Johnathan Thurston and Justin Hodges have already won the fans.

THEY’VE got bigger assignments next Wednesday night but Maroons State of Origin big guns Johnathan Thurston and Justin Hodges have already won over the fans.

Thurston became the second Cowboys player in a row to score a perfect 10 out of 10 from fans in The Courier-Mail’s Fan Favourite surveys with a sparkling performance in the big win over the Roosters last Saturday night.

And, on the back of his audacious tunnel-ball pass to Dale Copely for a try against the Titans last Friday night, Hodges rated a nine in round 10.

Thurston was awarded maximum votes by a whopping 76 per cent of respondents, many of whom jumped on to vote as soon as the full-time whistle was blown, and was rated a nine by another 16 per cent of fans.

In round 9, his Cowboys, Queensland and Australian teammate Matt Scott became the first player to notch a 10 in 2014. Scott “slipped” in round 10, all the way down to a nine (43 per cent).

Cenytre Kane Linnett was another Cowboy to rate a nine (33 per cent).

Hodges was the star of the show in the Broncos’ win over a depleted Titans at Suncorp Stadium, scoring a nine from 31 per cent of respondents and an 8 from another 26 per cent.

The bad news for NSW coach from our surveys was that three other Queensland reps, Matt Gillett (8), Nate Myles (8) and Brent Tate (8) also collected strong votes from the fans in round 10.

This year we’re asking fans to rate the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans on a weekly basis. We’ll keep the votes and name the Fan Favourite at each club at the end of the season.

The Origin stars will be missing this week but Queensland’s three NRL clubs will be in action and you are invited to rate the players again.

Just go to couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl to find the links.

Originally published as Queensland Origin stars Johnathan Thurston, Justin Hodges impress NRL fans