Blindside: Why JT ultimately spurned the Dragons
THE Dragons have emerged as the latest team that almost snared retiring champion Johnathan Thurston back in the day. But one critical move cruelled their chances.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
JOHNATHAN Thurston has become a Cowboys legend, but if not for the formation of the St George Illawarra joint venture, he could have easily been a Dragon.
On the eve of his farewell game tomorrow, Thurston’s manager Sam Ayoubtold Blindside how close Nathan Brown– now coach of Newcastle – came to snaring the Maroons ace in the Red V.
Brown worked in development for the Dragons before his appointment as head coach in 2003 and, with Queensland legend Arthur Beetson, was one of the first scouts to lay eyes on Thurston.
Thurston was 17 at the time and being courted by Bulldogs recruitment guru Mark Hugheswhen Brown made a late poaching bid.
Thurston was so impressed that Brown went to the effort to contact his mum Debbie that he considered going to the Dragons, but there was one key impediment.
PRE ORDER YOUR COPY OF “JOHNATHAN THURSTON: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY”
“The merger between St George and Illawarra changed everything,” Ayoub said.
“Johnathan was excited that ‘Brownie’ would ring him and his mum and he genuinely considered going to the Dragons.
“But at the time the joint venture were moving a lot of their operations to Wollongong, so that was a negative.
“Johnathan’s mum said if he was moving to Sydney, he had to stay close to me, so unfortunately it didn’t happen for the Dragons, but it was a real option at one point.
“Tommy Raudonikis (then Wests coach) was always keen on JT, and wanted to sign him to the Magpies, but the distance to Campbelltown for a young kid was also an issue.”
Will he fly coop?
THE Broncos have put the ball in Jack Bird’s court – you can stay or you can leave.
The speculation around Bird’s future intensified earlier this week when Bird was spotted at Cronulla’s home game against Newcastle, fuelling rumours of a return to the Sharks.
It is understood Bird flew to Sydney to support the retiring Luke Lewis, but the footage rang alarm bells at the Broncos.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is committed to Bird’s four-year deal, and is doing everything possible to ensure the former NSW Origin centre succeeds at Red Hill.
But ultimately, Bennett says the final decision rests with Bird. If the 23-year-old is having trouble settling in Queensland, the Broncos won’t force him to stay.
Bird discussed the prospect of a release with Bennett, telling him he is homesick. Bennett urged Bird to give the Broncos another 12 months at full fitness next season before making a definitive call on his future.
Door still open
DEPARTING Titans CEO Graham Annesleyhas not been lost to the Gold Coast.
Annesley will leave the Titans in October to join the NRL as its new head of football after spending five years on the Gold Coast.
Annesley has become incredibly close to club owners the Frizelles and Kellys and will be welcomed back to the club whenever he feels suitable.
Annesley will be offered a spot on the club’s board when the time is right.
As for who will replace Annesley, that is unlikely to be known for some time.
Executive chairman Dennis Wattis so hands-on that he will control the club for at least the next few months.
Watt has ruled himself out of the CEO role, but powerbrokers believe he is more than capable of running the club in the short term.
The Titans have already been inundated with applications to replace Annesley.
All the right moves
IS this Wayne Bennett or Benji Marshall?
Bennett may be 68, but he has shown age will not weary him with his fancy footwork at Broncos training.
The coach has been getting physical with his troops as Brisbane chases a home final, joining in training sessions.
As this picture shows, Bennett has a Marshall-like step.
All-in on Goldy
WHILE Panthers utility Tyrone Peacheyis trying to weasel his way out of a contract at the Gold Coast Titans, the same can’t be said for Raiders prop Shannon Boyd.
Boyd has signed a big-money deal to join the Titans next year and is committed to coming to the Gold Coast.
Boyd has already bought a house on the Glitter Strip after consulting captain Ryan Jamesabout the best spots on the Coast.
Continent hopping
THE NFL international combine on the Gold Coast next month is hotting up.
A testing day for aspiring NFL players will be held in Brisbane on Friday at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre at Nathan.
Starting at 9am, athletes will have the opportunity to undergo NFL tests in the 40-yard sprint, agility drills and vertical and horizontal jumps.
They are the drills Jarryd Hayne and Jordan Mailata performed in their quest to play American football.
A Sydney testing day will also be held at the Blacktown International Sports Park next Friday. More than 100 athletes have already been tested in Fiji, Auckland and Samoa.
Register your interest here.
Feet on the ground
SAM Thaiday will refuse to be chaired off Suncorp Stadium after what could be his final home game against Manly on Sunday.
Thaiday will retire when the Broncos’ season ends but he is adamant he doesn’t want a Johnathan Thurston style farewell from Brisbane.
“No one is going to carry me off,” he said.
“I will just walk off with the boys.
“I don’t need to be carried off. I’m too heavy.”
Benny bashing
SLEDGE of the season goes to a Broncos fan in Sydney last week.
Blindside was in the Broncos dressing room after Brisbane’s fantastic win against the Roosters when a rowdy fan decided it was time to leave.
“Wayne, I love you,” the man shouted so everyone could hear.
“You’re a very unattractive man, but I still love you.”
Bennett flashed one of his trademark crooked grins and copped the sledge on chin.
Spelling trouble
TITANS forward Keegan Hipgravehas been left red-faced following a spelling gaffe in a “player written” column.
In the online column, presumably penned by a ghostwriter, Hipgrave referred to coach Garth Brennan as “Gareth” numerous times.
It’s a good reminder for players to check what they are “writing” before it’s published.
Big one that got away
FORMER Broncos scout John Dixonhas defended Brisbane’s failure to sign Johnathan Thurston as a teenager.
Brisbane’s army of scouts put the red line through Thurston as a 17-year-old, saying he was “too skinny”, but Dixon hit back in defence of the Broncos’ development record.
“We’ve signed hundreds of kids who became long-time first-graders,” said Dixon, one of Brisbane’s finest scouts.
“We found kids like Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer, Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva... the list goes on.
“Johnathan was a good young kid and it’s easy to say imagine if he played for the Broncos with Lockyer, but you can’t sign them all.”
Titanic vacation
THE Titans’ non-appearance in the finals isn’t bad news for everyone.
While the players would love to be playing in the finals, they have booked some overseas trips to cash in on an early finish to the season.
One group of players is heading on surf trip, while some others are heading to Mexico and Texas to catch the last of the American summer.
Rebel yells
GET ready for another round of Super League fireworks. The Men of League Foundation is hosting its Queensland annual lunch next Friday at the Royal International Convention Centre and the special guests are worth the price of admission.
Former Super League spearheads John Ribot and Chris Johnswill be guest speakers alongside staunch Australian Rugby League duo Benny Elias and Trevor Gillmeister.
The Super League war divided the code in the 1990s, with Ribot becoming the most reviled figure in the game as he spruiked the rebel competition’s vision in the face of attacks from ARL powerbrokers such as Ken Arthurson and Phil Gould.
While the bad blood has long since died down, Elias, Ribot, Johns and “The Axe” are sure to entertain guests with their forthright views.
Visit the website or call (07) 3367 6080 to purchase tickets.
Dollars and sense
WHICH NRL star is furious after ringing his bank to ask why they charged interest on his home loan repayment? Perhaps the player’s club should give him a crash course in money matters.
Rising
Valentine Holmes: Broke Cronulla’s season tryscoring record last week against the Knights and could be the star of the upcoming finals with his back-field brilliance.
Shaun Johnson: Produced some moments of magic against Penrith to seal the Warriors’ top-eight berth. It’s time for him to step up in the finals.
Anthony Milford: The Broncos pivot’s kicking was outstanding in Brisbane’s win against the Roosters and he is starting to find some consistency.
Johnathan Thurston: Farewell to a legend who has filled these pages with plenty of stories over the past 17 years.
Falling
Trent Barrett: What a sook. Fancy a rookie coach giving up a precious NRL gig because of a lack of resources. Newcastle won premierships on shoestring budgets. Harden up Trent.
Parramatta: On track for three wooden spoons in seven seasons despite the backing of a wealthy Leagues Club. Eels hierarchy and players should be embarrassed.
Ben Hunt: The Dragons halfback’s form has plummeted on the back of his team’s predictable late-season fadeout.
Dylan Napa: The Roosters firebrand should have copped the tip about his tackling technique after he broke Korbin Sims’s jaw.