Johnathan Thurston says he’s struggling to get a read on the Cowboys form

THEY rebounded after their shock loss to Parramatta but Johnathan Thurston and Paul Green are still struggling to get a read on the Cowboys form.

North Queensland Cowboys v Sydney Roosters from 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville. Cowboys Johnathan Thurston. Picture: Zak Simmonds

HE has won two NRL premierships, four Dally M medals and nine State of Origin series but Johnathan Thurston is stumped about how his own team is tracking.

The Cowboys made it two wins from the opening three rounds of the season when they thumped a depleted Roosters outfit 40-0 in Townsville on Thursday night.

North Queensland had some polished moments during the seven-try demolition but they also let the young chooks fly through the middle of the field too easy at times.

The Cowboys will face their biggest test since last year’s epic decider at Suncorp Stadium on Good Friday in the grand final rematch against Brisbane.

And Thurston believes he will learn plenty about the Cowboys’ chances of going back-to-back from the encounter.

“It’s been pretty tough,” Thurston said of the opening to the season.

“With the amount of travel we’ve had to do over the last month, the boys were blowing.

“It’s hard to get a gauge on how we’re going at the moment.”

The Cowboys should be going well.

They haven’t copped any injuries and will field the same 17 players next week that collected the club’s first title after Ethan Lowe wasn’t charged for touching a referee.

The Townsville-based team has endured a tough schedule to start the year with trips to Auckland and England taking it out of them.

Coach Paul Green was also at a pains to describe his team’s form.

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“It’s probably a little bit early to get a read on it,” he said.

“We’ll see where we’re at the further we get into the season.

“It’s been tough to get right what you can and can’t do in the last month with training given all the travel that’s gone on.

“That’s been a challenge to manage.

“I’m keen to see how we’ll turn up (against Brisbane).

“The boys are getting the weekend off. It’s important they use that time to refresh themselves, recover and get ready for a big one.”

Thurston says the Cowboys are still trying to find their way.

The Cowboys showed glimpses of the structured and ad lib brilliance they’re capable of against the Roosters but the debacle at Parramatta was only a weak earlier.

Five-eighth Michael Morgan was another player struggling to decipher the club’s early-season form.

“It’s hard to say,” Morgan said.

“We were definitely disappointed with the Parramatta game. We knew we were better than that.

“We made up a bit for that. We expect more of ourselves.

“Next week will be a good indication. The Broncos have been in good form.

“They’re a benchmark side at the moment.”

Originally published as Johnathan Thurston says he’s struggling to get a read on the Cowboys form