Titans captain Ryan James hopes NRL can retain Johnathan Thurston to work in indigenous space

TITANS captain Ryan James hopes Johnathan Thurston can be retained in some capacity by the NRL to work in the indigenous space.

TITANS captain Ryan James hopes Johnathan Thurston can be retained in some capacity by the NRL to work in the indigenous space.

James and his Titans teammates will be all business when the Gold Coast and North Queensland clash tonight, pushing any sentiment towards Thurston’s retirement aside as they push for a win to end a disappointing season.

And he denied it would be hard to focus on the game against one of the sport’s great competitors.

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

“He’s a massive competitor and he’ll be expecting us to come out full bore and we’re expecting them to come out with a lot of emotion as well,” James said.

“It’s tough but we want to go out there and (play well) and we want the win as well.

“We want to make sure we win for ourselves and the fans and to know that we can do it. We’re hoping to go out there and ruin his parade.”

James is particularly proud of his indigenous heritage and has inherited role model Preston Campbell’s drive to use rugby league as a vehicle to help work in the community.

And he sees Thurston as an enormous asset for the game.

“He’s just been massive (for the game). Obviously Preston started it with the indigenous All Stars and through that I’ve been lucky enough to pull the jersey on with (Thurston),” James said.

“Just to see what he does in the team environment’s been something special — but what he does in the community and the wider environment is something you can’t put a price tag on.

“The way he carries himself and kids get something out of being in his presence is unbelievable.

“He’s done so much for the game and for the community and the indigenous community.

“He’s a great footballer and he’s an even better person, so it’s going to be tough seeing him leave.

“But he’ll probably fall into a role somewhere in the game.

Johnathan Thurston and Ryan James in action during the Captains Run for the Indigenous All Stars team at Cbus Stadium in Robina. Pics Adam Head

“Hopefully he gets to do some sort of role in the NRL in the future because he can definitely change lives just by being in an area.”

Titans coach Garth Brennan is another unabashed Thurston fan, calling the Cowboys master the best player he has ever seen.

“It’s hard for me to put into words what Johnathan Thurston is to this game,” Brennan said.

“It’s quite an honour for me to be able to coach against him in his last game.

“For me, words can’t describe how good Johnathan Thurston is, not just on the field but off the field as well.

“And that’s what this game needs. We don’t have enough of those people in our game. We hear all about the bad stuff that players do — and when they do something wrong it’s front page headlines.

“But it’s the other stuff that players do (that matters) and Johnathan Thurston is a shining light in that area.”