Left black and blue from his horror last NRL outing, Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston still took the opportunity to beat himself up ahead of the State of Origin decider in Sydney next week.

But they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – and Thurston predicted to return with a vengeance against NSW as Queensland vies for eight straight series wins.

Thurston was still kicking himself over his uncharacteristically poor display for North Queensland in their 26-18 NRL loss in Canberra.

“It was probably the worst game I have had all year – and I have had a few,” the two-time Dally M Medal winner said.

“I don’t know what it was, a day to forget I think.

“Things just didn’t go well.

“I am just glad to be in (Queensland) camp and around the boys again.”

Well, maybe not one of them.

Thurston would have been forgiven for being a little cold on Maroons teammate Josh Papalii who terrorised the Cowboys playmaker in Canberra.

In a game in which anything that could have gone wrong did, Thurston threw a pass into touch, stone cold knocked on and had a kick charged down resulting in a try to Canberra’s Josh McCrone.

But no doubt the lowlight was being trampled by Papalii in the 23rd minute as the Canberra wrecking ball cleared a path for a solo try.

“I had nightmares about him on Sunday night – thank goodness he is on my side this week,” Thurston smiled.

“He has size, power, footwork, he can hit. Once he realises how good he can be, he will take his game to another level.”

In the meantime, Thurston is promising to do just that in Origin III for Queensland.

“I am certainly looking to bounce back and what better arena to do it in than a decider down in enemy territory in front of 80,000 people,” he said.

Thurston admitted the thought of their streak ending had crossed his mind.

However, the Maroons inspiration believed they would go down in the history books for all the right reasons next Wednesday night.

“It’s mentally and physically draining losing a series – it does cut you deep,” said Thurston who must have only vague memories of the 2005 series loss to NSW.

“It’s been an amazing journey and if we can pull it off we could be the greatest (Queensland) side ever.”