North Queensland Cowboys struggling to find next Johnathan Thurston
THE Cowboys plans to replace Johnathan Thurston has hit a snag with the club struggling to attract young playmakers to be mentored by the maestro.
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THE Cowboys’ succession plan to replace Johnathan Thurston has become problematic with the club struggling to attract young playmakers to be mentored by the Maroons maestro.
As Thurston enters his twilight years, Cowboys powerbrokers have begun devising a blueprint to ensure the club copes with the eventual retirement of the greatest player in North Queensland’s history.
But there is one significant concern — young gun halves are going cold on joining the Cowboys.
At first glance, it would seem the perfect opportunity for any aspiring NRL playmaker. Head to Townsville, joining a Cowboys club that now ranks as a legitimate NRL heavyweight. Spend two or three years in the Cowboys system, learning the nuances of scrumbase play from one of the finest playmakers in the code’s 107-year history.
Then, when Thurston decides to pull the pin, the young gun is ready to roll, primed to walk in the footsteps of a legend.
In theory, the masterplan sounds simple. In reality, it’s not.
In the past two months, the Cowboys have made approaches to two generation-next halves, Brisbane’s Ashley Taylor and Wests Tigers whizkid Te Maire Martin.
Both politely declined North Queensland’s interest, fearing they could be stuck behind Thurston, who is off-contract at the end of 2017, and showing no signs of decay.
The Cowboys aren’t exactly reaching for the panic button, but they never envisaged that the superstar who should be a recruitment magnet is strangely a mild deterrent.
“We’re not having much luck, young halves don’t want to come here at the moment,” said Cowboys recruitment chief Peter Parr, who outlaid $220,000 a season to lure Thurston to North Queensland in 2005.
“From our talks with agents, our club isn’t the preferred destination.
“The feeling from most players is that they think there won’t be an opportunity here; that they won’t be picked ahead of ‘JT’ (Thurston) and Michael Morgan.
“Replacing JT will be a challenge and it’s something I have discussed already with ‘Greeny’ (Cowboys coach Paul Green).
“We’re chasing good young halfbacks to come here and do an apprenticeship under JT, but everyone is in a hurry.
“No one wants to play reserve grade for two years.”
Just ask Tigers sensation Martin. The 18-year-old Junior Kiwis five-eighth is rated the next Benji Marshall and attended the same high school at Keebra Park on the Gold Coast.
The Cowboys went hard for Martin. He opted for the Panthers last month, believing his graduation to the NRL will happen more rapidly at Penrith than it might in Townsville.
“We were hopeful of getting Te Maire Martin,” Parr said. “He is a very good young player, but he saw more of a pathway at Penrith so we missed out on him.
“I guess there is a fear you might get stuck behind Morgan and Thurston. But if you’re a young playmaker, I would imagine being behind JT and learning from one of the greats is the best apprenticeship you can get.
“You don’t get rushed into the NRL and you can develop your game working with Johnathan.
“We can go one of two ways. We can look to buy an established NRL halfback or we can look within and try to develop a young talent to take over from JT.”
The good news is there are options in North Queensland’s backyard. Parr has high hopes for under-20s halves duo Kyle Laybutt and Cooper Bambling, while fullback sensation Kalyn Ponga is being hailed the next Darren Lockyer.
Still just 17, Ponga scored a hat-trick against Souths last week in the under-20s and is rated a future NRL superstar with his speed, footwork and vision.
“It’s very important that we have some kids ready to step up when JT eventually retires. We need to be planning now,” said Cowboys recruitment chief Clint Zammit.
“Kalyn is one of the best kids I have ever seen. I have no doubt he can go down the same path as Darren Lockyer where he starts his career at fullback and ends up in the halves.
“Ponga is definitely an option to replace JT. As long as he keeps working hard, he can be a long-term NRL player, but it’s important he keeps a level head.”
Morgan is a key figure in the Thurston exit strategy. The classy pivot made his Origin debut this year, and will be 25 or 26 when Thurston retires.
“Michael will be in the prime of his career when we lose JT,” Parr said.
“The champions are difficult to replace and we understand it’s going to be a challenging time for the club when he goes.
“But we’re bracing for the day. We’re not too stressed ... it’s not like Johnathan is on his last legs.”
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