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JOHNATHAN Thurston's maiden Test call-up was made sweeter by the chance to play alongside Andrew Johns, the North Queensland matchwinner said this evening.
Source: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18979783-23210,00.html?from=rss
Thurston buzzed to play with Joey
By Laine Clark
April 30, 2006
JOHNATHAN Thurston's maiden Test call-up was made sweeter by the chance to play alongside Andrew Johns, the North Queensland matchwinner said this evening.
Thinking he had blown his last chance to impress Test coach Ricky Stuart in the Cowboys' mistake-riddled 22-18 NRL loss to Sydney Roosters last night, Thurston breathed easy tonight after being named on the Kangaroos bench for the Anzac showdown against New Zealand in Brisbane on Friday.
Pre-selection news was dominated by the Dally M medal winner after he lead the Cowboys to a club-record six-game winning streak to start the season.
The run planted North Queensland firmly on the top of the NRL table, but the wheels appeared to fall off in the past fortnight as the Cowboys crashed to shock losses to the Sharks and Roosters in a worrying sign for Thurston's Test chances.
Thurston admitted today that he thought he was skating on thin ice after a below-par performance under Roosters coach Stuart's watchful gaze this weekend.
"I had a pretty ordinary night so I've got to work on a few things during the week," he said.
"But (Test selection) is right up there.
"It's a huge honour."
Thurston said that his selection alongside "idol" Johns, who will be playing in his last game for Australia, only added to the buzz.
"To have the chance to play alongside him (Johns) in such an historic game is fantastic," he said.
"I admire the man and I study the man – this is such a buzz.
"And playing off the bench doesn't faze me at all. I am just thankful for getting a chance."
Thurston was named in the Test team alongside Cowboys teammate and incumbent Test back rower Luke O'Donnell.
The Cowboys had up to four players in line for Test selection, but Thurston denied the scrappy performance against the Roosters could be put down to jitters in front of Stuart.
"I just put last night's performance down to ball control," he asid.
"We had no respect for the ball.
"Making the Test team was the (furthest) thing from my mind.
"We had a pretty poor week the week before (against the Sharks) and all we wanted to do is get our little things right and perform well, but it wasn't to be."
O'Donnell said Thurston had put up with the most pressure before the Test team was announced.
"I'm more relieved for him than anything," he said.
"(Hype) can be a bit of a weight on the shoulders but his form goes to show the kind of player he is.
"Over the last few weeks in particular, where he has been targeted and had to deal with all the pressure that comes with the media stuff, he has shown he can stand up to it.
"That probably helped his cause when it comes to Test selection - the way he dealt with it all."
O'Donnell said New Zealand's 24-0 Tri Nations final win over Australia still stung.
"After losing that Tri Nations to the Kiwis this is a big occasion so I was very keen to get another opportunity," he said.
Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen is believed to be on standby for Test fullback Anthony Minichiello (hamstring strain).
Source: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18979783-23210,00.html?from=rss
Thurston buzzed to play with Joey
By Laine Clark
April 30, 2006
JOHNATHAN Thurston's maiden Test call-up was made sweeter by the chance to play alongside Andrew Johns, the North Queensland matchwinner said this evening.
Thinking he had blown his last chance to impress Test coach Ricky Stuart in the Cowboys' mistake-riddled 22-18 NRL loss to Sydney Roosters last night, Thurston breathed easy tonight after being named on the Kangaroos bench for the Anzac showdown against New Zealand in Brisbane on Friday.
Pre-selection news was dominated by the Dally M medal winner after he lead the Cowboys to a club-record six-game winning streak to start the season.
The run planted North Queensland firmly on the top of the NRL table, but the wheels appeared to fall off in the past fortnight as the Cowboys crashed to shock losses to the Sharks and Roosters in a worrying sign for Thurston's Test chances.
Thurston admitted today that he thought he was skating on thin ice after a below-par performance under Roosters coach Stuart's watchful gaze this weekend.
"I had a pretty ordinary night so I've got to work on a few things during the week," he said.
"But (Test selection) is right up there.
"It's a huge honour."
Thurston said that his selection alongside "idol" Johns, who will be playing in his last game for Australia, only added to the buzz.
"To have the chance to play alongside him (Johns) in such an historic game is fantastic," he said.
"I admire the man and I study the man – this is such a buzz.
"And playing off the bench doesn't faze me at all. I am just thankful for getting a chance."
Thurston was named in the Test team alongside Cowboys teammate and incumbent Test back rower Luke O'Donnell.
The Cowboys had up to four players in line for Test selection, but Thurston denied the scrappy performance against the Roosters could be put down to jitters in front of Stuart.
"I just put last night's performance down to ball control," he asid.
"We had no respect for the ball.
"Making the Test team was the (furthest) thing from my mind.
"We had a pretty poor week the week before (against the Sharks) and all we wanted to do is get our little things right and perform well, but it wasn't to be."
O'Donnell said Thurston had put up with the most pressure before the Test team was announced.
"I'm more relieved for him than anything," he said.
"(Hype) can be a bit of a weight on the shoulders but his form goes to show the kind of player he is.
"Over the last few weeks in particular, where he has been targeted and had to deal with all the pressure that comes with the media stuff, he has shown he can stand up to it.
"That probably helped his cause when it comes to Test selection - the way he dealt with it all."
O'Donnell said New Zealand's 24-0 Tri Nations final win over Australia still stung.
"After losing that Tri Nations to the Kiwis this is a big occasion so I was very keen to get another opportunity," he said.
Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen is believed to be on standby for Test fullback Anthony Minichiello (hamstring strain).
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