Johnathan Thurston launches NRL season 2016 with warning Cowboys will fight as hard as last year

THE NRL season is just a week away from kick off and it was launched in sun and beautiful surrounds at Sydney Harbour.

less than 2 min read

March 2, 2016 - 11:42AM

THE NRL season is just a week away from kick off and it was launched in sun and beautiful surrounds at Sydney Harbour.

Representatives from all 16 clubs were suited up and kitted out to kick off the season, which starts next Thursday, March 3 with Parramatta hosting last year’s runners-up Brisbane.

The players braved extreme heat at Circular Quay and last year’s premiership-winning captain Johnathan Thurston was on hand to officially kick off the season and was still reeling from last year’s heroics, but said he is ready for more.

NRL club captains at the 2016 NRL Season Launch in Sydney today. Picture: Tim Hunter

North Queensland Cowboys Captain Johnathan Thurston launched the 2016 NRL season in Sydney. Pic: Tim Hunter.

More Coverage

Tom Sangster’s SuperCoach top 10

Tom Sangster

Person most under pressure at your club

“It is a great honour to be up here. I was just a boy from Sunnybank that enjoyed his football,” Thurston. “I am blessed to be able to stand here now, having played 268 games. I would have been happy to play one. Game 268 was a very special one and a game I will never forget.

“It is a new year, but if you think we won’t be fighting as hard as we did last year, to take the trophy back up to Townsville as well as Mackay, Cairns and the 16,000 other kilometres we dragged the trophy to late last year, you don’t understand the power of this game and the motivation we all have.”

This year’s campaign focuses on the history-making nature of the game and the Cowboys’ Grand Final win in 2015 is one that will remain in the memories for years to come. ARL Commission chairman John Grant said the #historyhappens idea replaces the common use of a theme song as “the football will speak for itself.”

	VS

J Dugan 7 Tough night but was among the Blues’ better players.	FULLBACK	G Inglis 8 Loved the extra freedom and was always a threat at the back.
W Hopoate 2.5 Looked like a boy among men. Be lucky to ever play Origin again.	WING	D Boyd 7 Scored his customary Origin try but involvement limited.
M Jennings 7 Made the most of the few opportunities that came his way.	CENTRE	W Chambers 8 Capped off a great series with another fine game.
J Morris 5.5 Next to no influence with or without the footy.	CENTRE	J Hodges 6.5 Perfect send-off for the player the Blues love to hate.
B Morris 4.5 Hardly sighted in the game apart from spilling a bomb in first half.	WING	D Gagai 7.5 Great debut. Didn’t put a foot wrong and easily handled the big occasion.
M Pearce 4.5 Six missed tackles on a night where he saw plenty of traffic.	5/8	J Thurston 9 Sensational. Ran the show to perfection and virtually did as he liked.
T Hodkinson 6.5 Stood up defensively but had next to no footy to work with.	BACK	C Cronk 7 Played the perfect support role to Thurston without overplaying things.
A Woods 7 Solid again but the couple of penalties he gave away hurt the Blues.	PROP	M Scott 8 Was average in Game Two but back to near his best in this one.
M Ennis 7 Tackled everything and was his usual in-your-face self.	HOOKER	C Smith 8 Under pressure going in but has ice in his veins. Hardly took a wrong option.

J Tamou 5 Was several rungs below his performance in Game Two.	PROP	N Myles 7.5 As you would expect, he played tough with and without the ball.
B Scott 5 Not his usual intimidating self defensively.	2ND ROW	A Guerra 7.5 His best game at Origin level. Always a handful on the left edge.
R Hoffman 2 Didn’t last long before being forced off with injury.	2ND ROW	S Thaiday 7 Form down in Game Two but the enthusiasm was back in this one.
P Gallen 8 Was a machine again with and without the footy. Never stopped.	LOCK	C Parker 8.5 Great series for the Maroons. Just so hard to contain.
T Merrin 4 Has played for the Kangaroos but is yet to impose himself at Origin level.	I/CHANGE	M Morgan 6.5 Bit part but had some good touches while he was out there.
B Cordner 4.5 Defence was solid but limited minutes.	I/CHANGE	J Papalli 7.5 Showed exactly why Mal Meninga picked him.
D Klemmer 6 Might have been guilty of trying too hard. Great future at this level.	I/CHANGE	M Gillett 7 Had his best game in Maroon colours.
J Jackson 4 Watched most of the carnage from the bench. Probably a good thing.	I/CHANGE	J Lillyman 4 Outstanding from the bench. Close to Maroons best.
90	TOTAL	129