Marshall Tips Thurston To Shine At Six

He’s already officially the best rugby league player in the world, and Benji Marshall believes Johnathan Thurston will get even better by moving to five-eighth.

Thurston succeeded Marshall as the winner of the Golden Boot Award in December, following a stellar year as halfback for North Queensland, Queensland and Australia.

However, the 28-year-old now wants to play out the rest of his career in the No.6 jumper, the position where he started at with Canterbury in 2002.

Thurston will get his first opportunity to re-acquaint himself with the role in Saturday’s clash between the NRL All Stars and the Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast.

Marshall and Thurston will skipper their respective sides at Skilled Park and the Wests Tigers and New Zealand playmaker has no doubt the Indigenous captain will be an even more dangerous proposition at second receiver.

“The thing about JT is that he has great vision and when you sit back and play five-eighth you get to see a lot more of what is going on,” Marshall said.

“When you’re at seven you are caught a lot more around the ruck so he’ll see a lot more space and that’s dangerous. For me, it’s his best position.”

Thurston will line up alongside Marshall’s former Wests Tigers team-mate Robert Lui at the Cowboys this season following the 21-year-old’s move to Townsville after being charged with assaulting his girlfriend at their Sydney home in October.

And the New Zealand skipper believes Lui’s presence gives Neil Henry’s side a very strong halves combination.

“It will do wonders for JT’s game having Robert Lui alongside him, he’s a great player,” Marshall said.

“I was spewing we lost Robbie, but that’s footy. His off-field behaviour warranted that move, but he is a big loss for us.”

Thurston believes the switch to pivot will add some extra years to his career and then expressed his desire to remain with the Cowboys when his contract expires at the end of next season.

“Hopefully I can get another two or three years out my career and really stamp my name on the No.6 jersey,” he said.

“I’ve got no thoughts of leaving North Queensland, I’m very happy there.”

Thurston is also hoping he can replicate Darren Lockyer’s success in the role for state and country.

“With Locky retiring, there’s a space there to fill,” he said.

“I’d like to sit out at the back a bit more and get the ball when I want, a bit like Locky used to. “

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