For Johnathan Thurston, there is nowhere to hide in Friday night’s All Stars clash on the Gold Coast.
Indigenous captain Thurston the first to admit his shoulder would get an immediate workout in defence against a monster NRL All Stars outfit – despite his best diplomatic skills.
Thurston admitted he had asked his North Queensland teammate and NRL All Stars giant Jason Taumalolo to go easy on him.
“Yep, and that goes for the rest of the All Stars squad,” Thurston laughed.
“So could you pass that on, please.”
Cowboys coach Paul Green would be forgiven for being anxious about making his trump card available for the All Stars clash – Thurston’s first game since missing the 2014 Four Nations with a shoulder complaint.
Thurston is buzzing after undergoing a rare full pre-season with the Cowboys but admits there will be moments of apprehension on Friday night.
In contrast to an Indigenous pack hit hard by the withdrawal of Greg Bird and Sam Thaiday, the NRL All Stars will start with Test beasts James Graham, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Beau Scott, Taumalolo and Paul Gallen.
Then there’s the likes of Jesse Bromwich, Trent Merrin, Corey Parker, Jeremy Smith, Dave Taylor and Joseph Paulo as back-up.
Asked how he would stay out of trouble, Thurston said: “Just hide on the wing – oh no, they have (112kg Warriors winger) Manu (Vatuvei)!”
NRL All Stars coach Wayne Bennett admitted they could not match the Indigenous backline of Thurston, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges and Ben Barba.
But he said there were no prizes for guessing how they would win Friday night’s clash.
“I picked the biggest, meanest guys I could,” Bennett smiled.
“We are not going to be spreading the ball wide.
“It’s size versus skill and speed.”
Asked if he expected the Indigenous team to throw the ball around, Bennett said: “Well they will have to – they are not going to go through us.”
Due to withdrawals, the Indigenous starting front row is Dragons bruiser George Rose and Gold Coast youngster Ryan James.
The Indigenous side do not have a representative forward in their squad.
Compared to the NRL pack’s 1618 NRL games’ experience, the Indigenous boppers boast just 241.
Indigenous coach Laurie Daley admits it will force the likes of Hodges to spend some time in the backrow on Friday night.
Thurston insisted the positional switches wouldn’t bother his teammates.
“The boys will play anywhere in this jersey it means so much to them,” Thurston said.
“There’s no doubts but we understand it will be a tough game.
“(But) I have heard the guys talking, they understand how much this means to us and will show it the respect that it deserves.”
