Cowboys won’t give up on JT without fight
The North Queensland Cowboys have pledged to make Johnathan Thurston a Cowboy for life amid speculation NRL rivals the Penrith Panthers are set to make a big-money play after on Monday granting a release to deposed skipper Luke Lewis.
Cowboys football manager Peter Parr and Thurston’s agent Sam Ayoub on Monday night expressed shock at rumours Lewis’ departure from the Panthers could pave the way for their coach Ivan Cleary to sign the Queensland Origin star for 2014.
Thurston is off contract at the end of next season and Lewis’s shock request for a formal release, which was approved on Monday, was viewed as a sign Penrith were clearing the decks to accommodate the Cowboys playmaker under the salary cap.
But the Cowboys insist Thurston is going nowhere and will step up talks on a new deal to tie up the Test star for the rest of his career when the code’s TV rights deal is formally brokered in the coming months.
Thurston will be 30 when his current Cowboys deal expires and would be the No.1 target on the open market at a time when representative-quality playmakers are a rare commodity.
The two-time Dally M medallist could fetch about $1 million a season as a free agent, but Ayoub on Monday night emphatically scuppered talk of Thurston defecting to any NRL rival, including Penrith.
“This is JT’s eighth season in North Queensland and he can’t be happier there.”
he will stay in the North Queensland Cowboys jersey1
!*
Na hes coming topenrith
hahahahaha if i was yous id keep with walsh and ur young halves
In your dreams he will. He wants to stay at a club that plays finals and not in the running for the spoon.
@Shaamus89 if he came to penrith we wouldn’t be wooden spooners we will be in the top 8 for sure.
@Shaamus89
Remember it took your beloved sharks 3 year to be successful. The Panthers are finally headed in the right direction. The Luke Lewis drama is a hiccup, things are improving. Attack me, again. I really do not care about you or your childish abuse.
@Panthers Girl
Why do you take everything as a personal attack? Shaamus never once mentioned your name at all.
Back on topic, i dont see Thurston bolting the Cowboys, i think he signs a deal to keep him there for the rest of his career, i know he left the Dogs for NQ but he did that to gain more playing time and to be a starter, i understand he would start at Penrith but he seem pretty loyal.
@Sharkie
Please, look at the previous thread and you will understand what I meant. It is a personal attack to call someone a child and a troll. How would you like it if someone said that about the women in your life?
Enough, both of you. On topic or don’t post.
id hardly call a team with a trophy-less cabinet as successful. Also the title isnt won in July.
U herd it here first. Hayne is who penrith want. Jt is a smoke screen. Not good eels fans. We need stuart asap. Sk killing the place
cant see this a good move for the playing roster however penrith does need a marketing ploy as another 2-3 years of uninspiring team performance will further damage dwindling crowds. Thurston will be too old on the slim chance he comes to panthers so spend the money elsewhere.
when matt bowen retires thurston will go to penrith or wherever and retire