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JT's selflessness shines for farewell week

Johnathan Thurston is determined to make sure his North Queensland teammates stay grounded ahead of his last home game for the sake of Matt Scott's 250th match.

Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys.
Cowboys' Johnathan Thurston salutes the Sharks crowd after his Sydney farewell. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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It's the kind of answer that sums up Johnathan Thurston's selflessness as much as anything else in his 16-year NRL career.

As much as every kicking tee handed back to the ball boy, every headgear handed to a fan and every autograph he signed for the hundreds who hung back an hour after full-time on Saturday night in Cronulla.

Perhaps even as much as every bottle and piece of rubbish he picked up in North Queensland's sheds while injured during last year's run to the grand final.

Because with two games to play in his illustrious career and just one match left in Townsville on Friday night against Parramatta, this week is going to be all about the No.7 they call JT.

Except for the man himself, who said he had to keep his emotions in check when asked on Saturday night partly for the sake of long-time teammate Matt Scott, who will also play his 250th NRL game on Friday night.

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"I'm obviously experienced enough to keep a lid on it with the playing group," Thurston said.

"I think Matty Scott's 250th is coming up too so it's important as a team we prepare well and give ourselves every chance of winning the game.

"I'm experienced enough to do my bit for the team."

For the rest of the team though, Thurston's farewell takes just as much - and probably more - of centre stage.

The greatest player to have graced the fields of North Queensland, Thurston's farewell tour has been spoken about for months and he's been honoured at every turn.

On Saturday night he was gifted Aboriginal artwork and memorabilia by the Sharks after the Cowboys 28-16 loss, his last game NRL in Sydney.

And coach Paul Green said it was vital that result was reversed next week in Townsville.

"If we go forward a week and we're sitting there after the game the emotion is going to be there and all that sort of stuff but if we haven't got the result we want it's not going to feel real good," he said.

"So while all that stuff is going on it's important we give JT the honour he deserves given what he's done in the game."

The Cowboys also have an added incentive against Parramatta just in case they needed one: Avoiding the wooden spoon.

Saturday's loss left them last, 10 points behind the Eels on for-and-against and realistically meaning the winner of Friday's match is in good stead to escape 16th spot at season's end.

"It's extremely important," Thurston said.

"We've certainly got one fight on our hands.

"The boys have to make sure they turn up with the right intent through the week and get ourselves the best preparation we can headed into Friday night."


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