Johnathan Thurston will be on modified training to extend career

JOHNATHAN Thurston will be put on a modified training program as the Cowboys investigate ways to extend his career.

Cowboy's Johnathan Thurston training at 1300 SMILES stadium, Townsville, Queensland ahead of their Grand Final match against the Brisbane Bronco's in Sydney, NSW. Picture: Wesley Monts

JOHNATHAN Thurston will be put on a modified training program as the Cowboys investigate ways to extend his career.

The Cowboys’ premiership star will be ordered to scale back his training in a bid to prevent him breaking down.

Thurston is one of the club’s most fanatical trainers. GPS testing last season showed he had run 20km more than his Cowboys teammates after the Origin series in July.

The Cowboys want Thurston to face reduced training demands for the rest of his career, starting from November 30 when he reports for the pre-season.

The four-time Dally M Medallist turns 33 next April.

The Cowboys extended Matt Bowen’s career by cutting back his workload in his 30s and hope a similar approach will enable Thurston to play for on until 2018.

Johnathan Thurston will be on modified training to help extend his career. Picture: Wesley Monts

“It’s about being smart with JT next season, we need to lighten his load as much as we can,” Cowboys high-performance chief Paul Bowman said.

“Johnathan has put his body through a lot, so the key at this point in his career is making sure he is fit and ready to go on the weekend.

“Knowing JT, he will want to play rep footy until he retires so that middle period of the year is always tough for him physically.

“Any time next year when we can find time or sessions where we can modify his training, it’s really money in the bank for Johnathan at the back end of his career.”

Thurston has put his body under enormous strain. He battled a groin complaint last season and on the eve of the Cowboys’ grand final against the Broncos, the inspirational co-captain admitted he had never been so exhausted in his 13-year career.

The Origin and Test ace is keen to extend his career beyond 2017 but the Cowboys are offering no guarantees.

Thurston has played 333 top-level games, including 65 appearances for Queensland and Australia, and was forced to overcome dual shoulder reconstructions in 2007.

Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said the club would do everything possible to prevent Thurston retiring in 2017.

“We have a very good high-performance unit led by Paul Bowman and Andrew Croll,” he said. “Johnathan is in good hands as he gets towards the end of his career.

“Now more than ever we have more information around a player’s well being with where sports science is at. Johnathan is at a stage of his career where we have to make sure he’s not overworked and is fresh for games.

“I won’t be talking to him about a new contract until we see how his body is holding up. JT has two years to go and a lot can happen in that time. He’s a great player but we always need to look after him.’’

Originally published as Johnathan Thurston will be on modified training to extend career