Gold Coast will not lie down in Johnathan Thurston’s final NRL game

THE Titans are going to go as hard as they can at Johnathan Thurston in the legend’s last game — after all, the Cowboys star wouldn’t want it any other way.

North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans from 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville. Titans Ryan James helps Cowboys Johnathan Thurston up. Picture: Zak Simmonds

THE Titans insist Johnathan Thurston would be offended if they went easy on the Cowboys legend in his last NRL game tonight and have vowed to give him a farewell to remember.

Thurston will make the 323rd and final appearance of his NRL career when North Queensland clashes with Gold Coast at a sold-out Cbus Super Stadium.

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Thurston’s farewell will draw 27,000 spectators through the gates at Robina for the first time in a decade, with most expected to be cheering for the four-time Dally M Medal champion.

But the Titans are not about to sit back and watch Thurston produce some final pieces of magic as they desperately chase a strong finish to a disappointing season.

Titans prop Jarrod Wallace said he had set his sights on pressuring Thurston one last time.

“A lot of people want us to lose so they can send JT off a winner but I can tell you that’s not our mindset,” he said.

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“If anything we want to beat him more than anything.

“I know he’d be disappointed if we didn’t turn up and really make his last one a memorable one for him with a big physical game.

“I’m looking forward to getting in and getting dirty. We want to make sure it’s a memorable one.

“We like to make sure the halfbacks know we’re there and that won’t change because it’s JT’s last game.”

Thurston, 35, has copped his fair share of late shots during a 17-season NRL career which has seen his 87kg frame regularly battered.

The Titans are not planning to employ any illegal tactics, but hard-hitting lock Jai Arrow said Thurston would not be getting any favours because it was his last game.

“As a middle forward you want to go out there and target the spine and put them off their game,” he said.

The Titans won’t take it easy on JT. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“He is someone we will have to target and get at to try and stop.”

While showing some glimpses of improvement in 2018, it has been a mostly disappointing season for the Titans who could drop as low as 15th on the ladder if they lose.

That is the position the Titans finished last season in as coach Neil Henry was sacked and replaced by Garth Brennan.

Thurston’s farewell has drawn about 15,000 more fans to the game and Brennan said it was a good opportunity for the Titans to show potential Gold Coast supporters they were on the rise.

“It’s important for us to finish the year strong,” Brennan said.

“It’s been an up and down year with mixed results, but it’d be nice to go out there, put in a good performance and get the result.

“Every time we take the field it’s important we show our supporters and fans where we’re heading.”

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