Queensland halfback Cooper Cronk believes Johnathan Thurston will ensure the guessing game over his fitness won't be drawn out ahead of the State of Origin series opener.
Named as 18th man, Thurston has been given until before kick-off on Wednesday May 31 to overcome a shoulder injury sustained in the trans-Tasman Test.
Brisbane rookie Anthony Milford has been named as five-eighth for the Maroons but Cronk believes Thurston will make a call well before the late deadline to ensure Queensland face no distractions immediately before Origin I.
"John deserves to be given as much time as possible," Cronk said of Thurston, who has played 36 straight Origins.
"But JT's not a selfish player. In fact he's the complete opposite - he will do what's best.
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"If he can see he can't perform his duties for the entire 80 minutes whether that's tomorrow, next week or whenever, I am sure he will make the right decision. If John turns up it will be the cherry on top."
Thurston has confirmed this Origin series will be his last after announcing he will retire from representative football at season's end and Cronk said the likes of Milford show Queensland's future is in safe hands.
"There's no doubt you need your best players on the field but when you don't there is a lot of depth," he said.
"One of the best things about Queensland is their ability to fast-track the new guys.
"They get them up to speed on what we expect of them, what their role is and what State of Origin games are like, so they do their best come Wednesday night."
In the meantime Cronk already has some advice for his potential new halves partner Milford... don't change!
"The only advice I can tell him is that the reason he got selected is because he's been doing some really good things for the Broncos," he said.
"Just because you play at Suncorp Stadium in a Maroon jersey in front of 55,000 people doesn't mean you have to change.
"You have been selected because you can play the game - go out and do it. And I will help him as much as I possibly can."
