Bye Bye Johnathan

I don't know about that Gymp, his baiting on representative forums isn't quite as cunning as it is on BHQ.
 
Yeah that time he threw that bait back into the thread and 'dropped the forum cup' really was his undoing in many posters eyes.
 
Just saw this on the News website:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 89,00.html

NORTH Queensland will offer a take-it-or-leave-it $2.1 million contract to Johnathan Thurston this week in a last-ditch bid to stop rugby league's No.1 player walking out on the Cowboys and the NRL.

The development comes as Thurston's manager, Sam Ayoub, revealed the Test playmaker was considering quitting the code because of increasing concerns over the impact the NRL season was having on his body.

The Sunday Mail has learned Cowboys boss Peter Parr is set to offer Thurston the most lucrative deal in the club's 15-year history when the parties step up talks this week.

The three-year contract has a base value of $500,000 a season, plus an additional $200,000 in third-party sponsorships that Parr hopes will keep Thurston in Townsville until the end of 2013.

Thurston has received a $1.1 million offer from Japanese rugby union, meaning the Maroons maestro will sacrifice about $400,000 annually if he opts to remain in the NRL.

But Parr insists the Cowboys do not possess the fiscal muscle to engage in a bidding war with rugby.

"I've told Sam that he and Johnathan should get their head around the fact that we would struggle to do any better than what we've done," Parr said.

"The next time I have a formal meeting with Sam, which I expect to be in the next week or so, we will submit our final offer.

"Then it will be a case of Johnathan to give it due consideration with whatever else Sam has on the table for him from other codes.

"I'm trying to be fair and reasonable to Johnathan, but there's other players here to consider and we can't break the bank to sign him."

Parr remains confident Thurston will pledge his future to the Cowboys, but Ayoub revealed the multi-faceted grievances that could see the Kangaroos playmaker lost to the code.

At a meeting with NRL boss David Gallop a fortnight ago, the Cowboys captain outlined his concern over rugby league's pay structure and the number of matches being played by the game's elite.

Thurston's body has been battered recently, with the halfback having had a knee operation and shoulder reconstruction. There are fears injury will cut short his career.

The 26-year-old also questioned the earnings potential for the code's best players in comparison with elite Australian athletes in other sports such as cricket, rugby union and Australian rules football.

Ayoub said Thurston was increasingly mindful of his welfare and the fact he could earn nearly twice as much in rugby playing half as many games.

"It (the number of NRL games) is a consideration and it's something that has been conveyed to David Gallop," Ayoub said.

"JT has concerns about the wear and tear of the rugby league schedule on him. He is concerned about the toll and the amount of footy they play, it's not a whinge, it's just a fact.

"Johnathan doesn't want to end up in the 50 per cent disposables bin in a short space of time - he's trying to prolong his career," he said.

Parr believes the ace up the Cowboys' sleeve is the post-football opportunities they can offer.

"I know Johnathan enjoys representing the region and we talked a bit about the benefits of life after footy if he stayed in the game."

"If he sticks with the game and the Cowboys, there is certainly potential for him after football.

"I am more confident than ever that if Johnathan stays in the NRL, it will be at the Cowboys."

But Ayoub conceded the Cowboys' offer may not be enough to keep Thurston in rugby league.
Click to expand...

That's a CRAPLOAD of money. Thurston's saying that the game's having an impact on his body. That's just a lame excuse, it's all about the money!
 
To me, it seems like Thurston is doing the whole joey thing for the big kahuna contract. I suppose he wants this one to be the "caching" because he's 26. There is no way in the world the cowboys will win a title if they pay him that much though... they are just going to be short in other areas then.

I'd be more worried about not winning a title in his career. There is not one 'elite' player who has not won a title... and I'm talking Langer, Joey, Fittler, Daley level... Thurston is not even CLOSE...
 
lockyer47 said:
To me, it seems like Thurston is doing the whole joey thing for the big kahuna contract. I suppose he wants this one to be the "caching" because he's 26. There is no way in the world the cowboys will win a title if they pay him that much though... they are just going to be short in other areas then.

I'd be more worried about not winning a title in his career. There is not one 'elite' player who has not won a title... and I'm talking Langer, Joey, Fittler, Daley level... Thurston is not even CLOSE...
Click to expand...

Thurston has won a title, with the Doggies in 2004 albeit not as the focal point of the team.
 
Meh, great individual player he may be, he's not worth the dollars rugby are offering.
 
The Gymp said:
lockyer47 said:
To me, it seems like Thurston is doing the whole joey thing for the big kahuna contract. I suppose he wants this one to be the "caching" because he's 26. There is no way in the world the cowboys will win a title if they pay him that much though... they are just going to be short in other areas then.

I'd be more worried about not winning a title in his career. There is not one 'elite' player who has not won a title... and I'm talking Langer, Joey, Fittler, Daley level... Thurston is not even CLOSE...
Click to expand...

Thurston has won a title, with the Doggies in 2004 albeit not as the focal point of the team.
Click to expand...


Ah dang, forgot about that. Although they would have won with 16 players that night IMO. He didn't do anything from what I remember.
Hmmm that is quite funny how he has one premiership under his name for that...
 
Well he's never going to win a title up North. That team is deadset hopeless. They're like the South Sydney of QLD.
 
lockyer47 said:
There is not one 'elite' player who has not won a title... and I'm talking Langer, Joey, Fittler, Daley level... Thurston is not even CLOSE...
Click to expand...

What about Anothony Mundine?
 
lockyer47 said:
I'd be more worried about not winning a title in his career. There is not one 'elite' player who has not won a title... and I'm talking Langer, Joey, Fittler, Daley level... Thurston is not even CLOSE...
Click to expand...

Andrew Ettinghausen?
 
Good point Jeb.
Stacey Jones too.

I think saying to be an elite player you have to win a title is a bit naive. A title isn't won by an individual, it depends on a team unit that works together well.
 
Coxy said:
Good point Jeb.
Stacey Jones too.
Click to expand...

Are either of them really "elite" players though? Both are classy players, but I wouldn't neccessarily call them elite (wouldn't put them up there with the Langers, Lockyers, Johns etc)

Not that he's an elite player either, but I personally reckon Mark Coyne is the must unlucky guy when it comes to not winning a gf.
 
I'd say they are elite players for sure. Jones was outstanding for the Warriors on a consistent basis in the early 00's in particular, and ET will surely go down as one of the best players never to win a Premiership.
 
I'd say Jones is right up there with the best halfbacks of the last 20 years. Probably a tier just below Langer and Johns, probably level with Stuart and Thurston.
 
I think losing Thurston would be a blessing in disguise for the Cows, especially if they are going to have that sort of money tied up in him. They have a pretty ordinary squad and freeing up that sort of cash will enable them to lure some better quality talent north.
 
Jeba said:
and ET will surely go down as one of the best players never to win a Premiership.
Click to expand...

No arguments about that, but it still doesn't make him an elite player
 
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