Thurston Arrested

[Anonymous person]

Any team is better with JT in it than they would be without him. He's a genuine gamebreaker, one of the very select few of a generation who can literally win a match virtually by themselves.

He's not the problem with the cowboys, the problem is the outside backs. Apart from tonga (and Bowen but he has barely been there for the last 3 years) they all just make stupid decisions and mistakes, leading thurston to have more and more pressure on him to do it all himself.

And at the start of the year, he almost did do it all himself week after week. He was the only reason they weren't getting beaten 30-0 every week.

 

[Coxy]

As good a player as he is, he's not a captain. I think that's elyod's point.

 

[Jeba]

Any team is better with JT in it than they would be without him. He's a genuine gamebreaker, one of the very select few of a generation who can literally win a match virtually by themselves.

As true as that may be, is that what the Cowboys need? Look back to 2004, they had a team that played for each other and the 1-6-7-9 of Bowen, Miles, Fien and Payne ran the show all together. They all called the shots, whereas these days it's just Thurston calling the shots. Ask Neil Henry if he'd rather just have Thurston in his side, or have 4 players to form that backbone of the team and I reckon he'd go the latter for sure. The qualifying final against the Bulldogs in particular, those 4 just absolutely dominated up the middle of the ruck and that's what won them the game.

Thurston is very much the individualist and at times I think that plays against the Cowboys. I know that in a team of ordinary players he is pretty much forced to play that way, but the point I am trying to make is that the Cowboys aren't automatically better off with him in the side.

 

[Huge]

AP...a little insider knowledge tells me JT is a part of the problem up north. No doubt he is an excellent player and you will get no argument about that but he will be replaced in time and the game will soldier on on the back of some new superstar player.I wrote some time back on this forum that Nth Qld had some serious issues involving player power and the general structure of the organisation.

That is probably stating the obvious to anyone who has gotten anywhere near the inner workings at that club. A new broom is needed but I'll tell you this for free, even if the broom was Brian Smith or Wayne Bennett the chances of a recovery anytime soon would only be 50/50. That place is in trouble and even finals footy would not keep all the problems in the dark.

Needless to say, I totally agree with everything you wrote even if it's different to my opinion.

 

[Coxy]

Any team is better with JT in it than they would be without him. He's a genuine gamebreaker, one of the very select few of a generation who can literally win a match virtually by themselves.

As true as that may be, is that what the Cowboys need? Look back to 2004, they had a team that played for each other and the 1-6-7-9 of Bowen, Miles, Fien and Payne ran the show all together. They all called the shots, whereas these days it's just Thurston calling the shots. Ask Neil Henry if he'd rather just have Thurston in his side, or have 4 players to form that backbone of the team and I reckon he'd go the latter for sure. The qualifying final against the Bulldogs in particular, those 4 just absolutely dominated up the middle of the ruck and that's what won them the game.

Thurston is very much the individualist and at times I think that plays against the Cowboys. I know that in a team of ordinary players he is pretty much forced to play that way, but the point I am trying to make is that the Cowboys aren't automatically better off with him in the side.

Well said, Jeb. What can happen with a team when one player is so good and so dominant is that it can create a culture of laziness and lethargy amongst the rest of the players. Basically an attitude of "JT will do it" in every situation, and if things are going bad, especially for JT himself, the players go "shit, if JT can't do it then what hope do we have?".

This year some of the Cowboys' best performances came when JT was out injured or on rep duty. Notably the win over the Roosters in Sydney in round 9.

The Broncos have gone through similar phases in their history. Langer in the mid-90s - Broncos teams would rack up plenty of wins all year, but when it came to the big games if Langer couldn't deliver, the rest were shit (1995-1996 finals were a classic example). And at times in the 2000s it was the same with Lockyer.

It's a tough culture to break, and probably one of the best ways is for the club to stand up and show the rest of the players that they don't see JT as infallible. I think they need to make a bit of an example out of him for this incident and lose the captaincy, and not give in to threats of him wanting a release if they do that. It will show the rest of the player group that they better lift their act if the club is willing to risk losing JT on principle.

 

[Coxy]

I'd love to know how the players feel about Thurston's on field antics though. Whenever they do something stupid he gives them a massive mouthful and carries on. When they do something good he gives them a few back slaps and that's about it. He reminds me of one of those sporting captains that bring down the morale of the team when they are losing. One of those captains that you're scared off because if you drop the ball or make a mistake, you're arse will get chewed off. Nerver struck me as a great captain. The way he carries on with the refs every week is further proof of that I believe.

Joey Johns was exactly the same.

 

[Nashy]

Yeah. And he was a fucking overrated c*nt too.

 

[Anonymous person]

As true as that may be, is that what the Cowboys need? Look back to 2004, they had a team that played for each other and the 1-6-7-9 of Bowen, Miles, Fien and Payne ran the show all together.

and half their problems over the last few years have been that Bowen has been injured basically all the time, and Payne has missed a fair few games as well. thurstons also missed a fair chunk of time as well.

if they had all those 3 fit and playing together every week, theyd have the best 1/7/9 combination this side of slater/cronk/smith. it just hasnt been able to happen though. thurston has to do it all himself because the other 2 guys havent been there consistently.

 

[Coxy]

As true as that may be, is that what the Cowboys need? Look back to 2004, they had a team that played for each other and the 1-6-7-9 of Bowen, Miles, Fien and Payne ran the show all together.

and half their problems over the last few years have been that Bowen has been injured basically all the time, and Payne has missed a fair few games as well. thurstons also missed a fair chunk of time as well.

if they had all those 3 fit and playing together every week, theyd have the best 1/7/9 combination this side of slater/cronk/smith. it just hasnt been able to happen though. thurston has to do it all himself because the other 2 guys havent been there consistently.

This is a very good point actually. A significant, in fact, I think the most significant factor in the Storm's success was their ability to keep their 1, 6, 7 and 9 fit and playing together week in, week out. The 1/7/9 having played together for the best part of 5 or 6 seasons, with various 6s filling in, has been huge (notwithstanding the fact they shouldn't have been able to keep them all...)

The high injury rate for the Cowboys in those key positions has been a telling factor in their inconsistency.

That said, Thurston does clearly have some attitude issues judging by this incident, others like it, and constant reports of unrest amongst coaching and club management staff.

 

[Boofhead]

Cowboys might not need to worry about Thurston ever again with whats circulating. eusa_think

 

[Black Philip]

Cowboys might not need to worry about Thurston ever again with whats circulating. eusa_think

And what might that be?

 

[Nashy]

Check your PM ***.

 

[Boofhead]

I followed the Broncos, I even went to the 06' grand final... But I'm a Coaster and thats where my loyalties will always lye.

I haven't looked back since making the switch to the Titans, the club has done amazing things since it's inception. Signings, on field & off field performance, center of excellence.

With a full strength team heading into one of the most competitive final series ever, there is a great opportunity to win a premiership overshadowing the new GayFL franchise.

Memberships will be up next year big time.

 

[Boofhead]

Wrong thread, cbf reposting.

 

[Boofhead]

Wrong thread, cbf reposting.

 

[m1c]

Cowboys might not need to worry about Thurston ever again with whats circulating. eusa_think

Doesn't make sense if you think about logically.

 

[Huge]

m1c....do you mean because 'it' is circulating and therefore must always come back around renewing the 'worry' for the cowboys ??

 

[m1c]

m1c....do you mean because 'it' is circulating and therefore must always come back around renewing the 'worry' for the cowboys ??

I have no idea what you are implying. But i mean they don't make sense because they don't make sense. The rumors don't stack up with the actual events.