Holiday first before contract talk
Johnathan Thurston has refused to give any assurances he’ll remain a North Queensland player beyond next season, with the champion playmaker, poised to potentially become the game’s highest-paid player.
A week after his Australia and Queensland teammate Greg Inglis signed a new deal with South Sydney to become the NRL’s first million dollar-a-season man, Thurston said he is yet to decide where his future lies.
The 29-year-old, two-time Dally M Medallist, is the biggest name off-contract at the end of the 2013 campaign, and with the new broadcast deal pumping a billion dollars into the game, Thurston’s in a strong position to name his price to potential suitors.
The Cowboys have no fewer than 20 players who have deals that expire at the end of next year, including representative props Matt Scott and James Tamou while Matt Bowen, Brent Tate, Dallas Johnson and prolific winger Ashley Graham will also be off contract.
This could significantly hamper their attempts to keep the former Canterbury playmaker, who joined the club in 2005, but Thurston, who’ll play for Australia against New Zealand on Saturday in Townsville, said on Wednesday he’s more interested in taking a holiday than sitting down with the Cowboys’ powerbrokers at the moment.
Now he would be on my shopping list.
Non committal obviously not he’d be very stupid not to test the waters, he could name his price.. Devout saint, we are dreamers..!
Yeh I know.
David May, sign him!
Doust, now is your chance!
By the end of his current contract he will be 31 and he will be past his best.
What ever contract he takes will be his last and it will be a big one to see him through to retirement.
I would be looking at younger halves instead of a guy who will be past his use by date for his next contract.
He is just testing the waters, bump his negotiating power with the the Cowboys.
No on will be able to compete with NQLD as they will get a discount dispensation from the salary cap for being a long serving player
Yeah, fair call Dan!
hmmm , sign a 30 year old a million +, he’ll be asking for a 4 year deal no doubt
Dragons wouldn’t rate a chance boy’s. We couldn’t attract Blowies to a piece of crap at the moment.
@Cmonthedragons
Hopefully next year is the Dragons year, that is combined with the Panthers of course.
is that the batten for the spoon ?haha
Have to pay that one roger, it was funny.
I reckon since the dragons are looking for a half they should make a huge play for him and i can see thurston in the red and white
I think he would go to the dragons for six months not like get traded to the knights to retire with everyone else then the dragons will get upset we stole another one of there players ha ha but comes to think of it he prob stay at the cowboys
Come back home to belmore and win another comp.
It’s more then likely that he would resign with the cowboys. But if he would go anywhere it would be the broncos. They have been making room for a big name over the past couple seasons. They still had room in the cap left over from inglis, folau, k hunt, and Lockyer. Plus even more now that petro, teo and Beale have left. And try have only signed a Qld cup player who would struggle to be in there top 25 paid players, and if he was then he would be at the bottom. And both Corey Norman and Ben hunt come off contract at the end of next year as well…
The Warriors have deep pockets at the moment. Open that chequebook and sign up Thurston Scurrah for 2014!
Gus Gould has had him in his sights since he took on
the penrith gig!
Good as done with having the best player in the NRL
In rugby league heartland to stick it up AFL.
I heard long ago that Thurston was a done deal at the Panthers. Where’s Blueballs comments????
Lot of people were saying that JT verbally agreed to a contract with the Panthers for 2 years(14′,15′).The contract also includes when JT retires he will be the head halfback coach in the halfs academy in penrith.Nothing is official.However if it does become official i would crap my pants XD
I think that I would suffer from a massive heart attack from the shock. It would be great if it happens.
“I think that I would suffer from a massive heart attack from the shock. It would be great if it happens.”
It wouldn’t be great if a fellow panther fan suffers from a heart attack XD
That is true, Panthers Territory, but, can you understand where I am coming from?
.
I like Walsh and Coote plus they are on alot less than what JT would be on. If we were to buy Thurston we would need to sell Walsh (who just resigned) Mckendry (who is on big money) Newton (off contract at the end of next year) dump Ceraldo Armit Galea. So ill be happy witrh that
He’s NOT going to the dragons! Put your house on that one.
@Jennings Fan
You like Luke Walsh, the guy does not tackle and is competely useless.
. Each to their own, I suppose 
. I hope that Harry is given a decent shot next year.
Siejka will be halfback next year.Gould and cleary have had enough of walsh’s garbage attacking and defending football.Coote will be 5/8 with blake austin at lock.At least i hope.
Rest assured he will stay a Cowboy. The powers that be will not let him go