Thurston buries Origin hatchet with Gallen
Sep 21, 2016 - 7:00 PM He may be plotting Paul Gallen's NRL downfall but Johnathan Thurston says there are no longer any hard feelings in the wake of their State of Origin feud.North Queensland playmaker Thurston will again face off with the Cronulla captain in Friday night's NRL preliminary final at Allianz Stadium.
However, the pair appear to have buried their Origin hatchet in what would be a relief for Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga ahead of the end of season Four Nations.
Thurston said he didn't have any lingering issues with Gallen and even sung the Sharks lock's praises as they prepare to lock horns in the grand final qualifier.
A war of words erupted between the pair after Queensland half Thurston dismissed Gallen as "disrespectful" when the NSW skipper led his team off the field during Maroons captain Cameron Smith's victory speech in July.
Two months later and Thurston has a very different take on the Cronulla captain.
"I have played a lot of football alongside the G-Train (Gallen)," he said.
"I know what he brings to the team, what sort of character he is away from the football field.
"If you are playing footy you want him in your team."
No hard feelings, then?
"We've all moved on from that," Thurston said.
"And this is Cronulla v Cowboys, not State of Origin."
Thurston's stance avoids a potentially toxic Four Nations campaign by a Kangaroos squad expected to feature the pair.
Gallen is still in Thurston's sights - North Queensland will look to keep their title defence on track with victory on Friday night.
That will be easier said than done.
Little has separated the teams this season - North Queensland beat Cronulla 20-14 in round one and the Sharks triumphed 13-10 in round 14.
They have split their past eight games 4-4.
"We are both defensively strong, both teams don't leak too many points so they are hard to come by - that's all I can put it down to," Thurston said of their miserly rivalry.
"It shows that opportunities are few and far between in finals - you have to take them."
Source: AAP
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- Stronger Nth Qld pack to be NRL 'targets' Dec 12
- Scott ponders extending NRL career Dec 11
- Winterstein unfazed by 2018 NRL challenges Dec 7
- Cairns set to host Scott's NRL return Dec 6
- Thurston soaking in last NRL pre-season Nov 21
- Thurston early for Cowboys' pre-season Nov 14
- Taumalolo again named Cowboys' best Oct 6
- Morgan keen to thrill alongside Thurston Oct 2
- Cowboys Martin open to hooker switch Oct 1
- Morgan put under the pump by Smith Oct 1
- Gutsy Cowboys count NRL injury costs Oct 1
- Cowboys stars go missing in perfect Storm Oct 1