Two Dally M Medals, one NRL premiership, the 2011 Golden Boot and enough Origin highlights for Queensland to further depress any long suffering NSW fan.
Yes, Test halfback Johnathan Thurston has just about done it all.
But his North Queensland Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott reckons we ain’t seen nothing yet.
Scott believes Thurston’s switch to five-eighth this season has given him added inspiration for the 2012 season.
“I don’t know how much more dangerous he can get,” said Scott.
“But in saying that I think he is primed for a really big year. The glint in his eye is definitely there.
“He is ready to go.
“If you put either number (six or seven) on his back he will be the best player in the world.”
Scott was not sure what prospect was more exciting – Thurston at pivot or the healthy competition his switch has created for the vacant halfback role.
Former Wests Tigers No.7 Robert Lui appears the front-runner once he overcomes a knee injury but will not have it all his own way against Ray Thompson and Michael Morgan.
“JT is a natural five-eighth,” Scott said.
“And the fact that we have a bit of depth in the halves will take a lot of pressure off him. That is definitely an exciting factor.”
Despite being quiet on the recruitment front, Cowboys coach Neil Henry still faces plenty of selection headaches.
“There’s a lot of positions up for grabs from the outside backs right into the forwards,” Henry said.
The arrival of Kane Linnett from the Sydney Roosters has kept many guessing over the Cowboys backline.
Nailing down the wing positions and finding Brent Tate’s centres partner after Willie Tonga’s departure is enough to keep Henry pondering.
Then there’s the forwards.
Scott will be first picked but the jury is out on the pack’s make-up with Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson, 2010 Australian Schoolboys lock Chris Grevsmuhl, Cory Paterson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper and Scott Bolton all at Henry’s disposal.
“Competition for spots will put pressure on players to perform and that is only going to help us this year,” Scott said.
Not that the Cowboys lack motivation after their 2011 season ended abruptly in a rare finals campaign.
Top four for most of last season, the Cowboys limped into their first finals assault since 2007 after stumbling to seventh.
They still backed themselves against Manly in the finals’ first round, especially after walking off SFS leading 8-0 at halftime.
Which made their 42-8 loss to the eventual premiers all the more devastating.
But Scott said the Cowboys must learn from that game if they are to at least match their historic 2005 NRL grand final debut this season.
“It is good to actually bring that loss up,” he said.
“It shows what is needed to go all the way in this comp.
“We worked hard last year and we went far but we now realise it wasn’t far enough.
“The club wants to win its first premiership. We now know what it takes to do that.”
