![Johnathan Thurston of the Kangaroos passes during the Anzac Test match.](/web/20170508210828im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/z/k/i/t/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gvziz9.png/1494150124369.jpg)
Johnathan Thurston in doubt for State of Origin opener
Australian Kangaroos five-eighth Johnathan Thurston is in danger of missing the State of Origin series opener.
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.
Follow full live coverage of South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles.
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.
The class of 2017 graduated with flying colours for North Queensland as the injury-hit Cowboys held out the Gold Coast Titans for a 32-26 win in Saturday night's NRL clash.
Jason Taumalolo's staggering $10 million, 10-year contract is unlikely to be the last eye-popping, decade-long deal signed off by an NRL club, insists Cowboys general manager of football Peter Parr.
The Cowboys lock must produce the goods until 2027 under a benchmark deal that should have the NRL questioning the wisdom and fairness of such long-term contracts.
Jason Taumalolo has signed one of the longest contract deals in NRL history, keeping him at North Queensland until the end of the 2027 season.
North Queensland have added much-needed forward depth by signing Melbourne prop Jordan McLean on a three-year NRL deal.
They met as kids, became mates, then teammates and passed 2000 points within hours of each other. And modern greats Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith show no signs of slowing down.
Manly's horror start to the 2017 NRL season has ended emphatically in Townsville after they scored a much-needed 30-8 victory over North Queensland.
Follow full live coverage of the three NRL clashes on Saturday afternoon.
Brisbane have launched into field goal practice at training ahead of what they expect to be another NRL thriller in Melbourne on Thursday night.