He may be in representative retirement, but Paul Gallen reckons his form would still warrant inclusion in the State of Origin opener as he jokingly said he plans to holiday in Queensland during the representative period.
An Andrew Fifita-inspired Sharks woke from a first-half slumber to end a baffling run of home defeats, reeling in a 14-point deficit to down a Johnathan Thurston-less Cowboys
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Cronulla prop Matt Prior will miss Thursday night's NRL clash with North Queensland after entering an early guilty plea for a shoulder charge.
One of rugby league's most promising young players is facing the prospect of a four-year ban after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance.
Michael Morgan is adamant he can not only wear Johnathan Thurston's mantle as the Cowboys' linchpin - but would handle the pressure that comes with Queensland's No.6 jersey - should the Immortal-in-waiting's 36-game State of Origin streak end later this month.
Des Hasler demanded his Dogs rest, but cotton wool Canterbury couldn't get out of their cocoon in time to tame a Johnathan Thurston-less Cowboys.
Des Hasler refused to blame a contentious obstruction call inside the first three minutes for the Bulldogs' limp loss to a Johnathan Thurston-less Cowboys.
A shoulder injured could sideline the superstar for three to six weeks.
Australian Kangaroos five-eighth Johnathan Thurston is in danger of missing the State of Origin series opener.
The Kangaroos five-eighth wants to begin his representative farewell with the final Anzac Test.
The late scratching of star halfback Johnathan Thurston was a blow the North Queensland Cowboys couldn't recover from.
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Newcastle-bound fullback Kalyn Ponga has scored two tries in North Queensland's 12-point NRL win over the Knights on Saturday in Townsville.
It was an unlikely comeback sparked by the unlikeliest of heroes, but St George Illawarra held off a fast finishing Cowboys outfit remain at at the top of the NRL ladder.
North Queensland coach Paul Green is hopeful Johnathan Thurston will return to the NRL from a calf injury in a fortnight.
As he addressed the team for potentially the last time before Saturday night's clash against the Cowboys, Mitchell Moses looked his teammates in the eye and said: "no excuses".
Rather than worry about his tag as the NRL's $10 million man, North Queensland wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo says his sole concern is making amends for his two-match ban.
North Queensland's impressive start to the 2017 NRL season continued in Townsville on Friday as a composed Cowboys accounted for South Sydney 20-6.
Gold Coast co-captain Ryan James will risk a two-game NRL ban by contesting a shoulder charge citing by the match review panel.