Johnathan's Diary

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Johnathan's Diary
18Jul07

Adding insult to injury

I HATE to keep going on about overhauling the representative season.
But I believe the high-profile injuries of round 18 just reinforce my case.
Losing Brisbane, Queensland and Australia captain Darren Lockyer for the rest of the year is not just a blow to the Broncos but rugby league in general.
Sure, it could have been a freak thing with his knee giving away under him but I tend to feel that the work-load heaped on rep players did not help.
Darren has played pretty much nonstop over the past few years, going from club footy to rep footy and back again over and over.
That has got to lead to wear and tear on the body, doesn't it?
Bulldogs and New South Wales enforcer Willie Mason also joined the list at the weekend.
While injuries are part and parcel of rugby league, I still believe the elite players in our game can be protected better if we lighten their workload.
Like I said last week, that means reducing the season to 22 rounds and giving State of Origin and Test match football their own week.
Although the change might hit the NRL in the hip pocket initially, in the long run I think the competition will reap the benefits.

• • • •

HAMMER BLOW ... Cowboys front-rower Shane Tronc's season is over after copping a knee injury

THE loss of Shane Tronc from the Cowboys' line-up for the rest of 2007 cannot be underestimated, but at the same time I know we have the depth to fill the void.
With our big front-rower going under the knife in the next seven days the door is open for guys like Benny Vaeau, John Frith and Sammy Faust to make the step up.
While they are still relatively inexperienced in first grade, they have all had their taste this season already, so they will not be overawed if and when they get the call-up.
And with Carl Webb, Ray Cashmere and Matty Scott already leading from the front in the pack, I can assure you that North Queensland still have plenty of muscle as we head into the business end of the season.
However, there is no doubt we will feel the effect of Troncy not being around for the rest of the season as he undergoes a knee reconstruction.
The big fella is hugely underrated in the prop world, but here at the Cowboys we know just how valuable his contribution is.
Troncy may not get the big wraps he deserves but each week he goes out and gives it everything and, more often than not, he walks off the field leading the tackle count and the metres gained.
I can't even remember when it happened, one minute he was fine and the next thing the word around the dressing room was that he was facing the prospect of an operation.
After suffering my own knee injury last season and having to sit out a number of weeks, I know what Troncy is going through _ sort of, anyway.
The great thing about Shane is he won't let it get him down for too long and with a new baby to look after he would not have the chance to dwell on things for too long anyway.
He's taken to fatherhood brilliantly and I am sure his wife Amy would not mind a little bit of extra help with nappy duties now that Troncy will be around the house a little more often.

• • • •

I KNOW many Cowboys fans may disagree with me on this assessment, but I believe our round-six match against South Sydney was one of our worst performances of the season.
So on Sunday afternoon at Telstra Stadium we will be looking to set things right.
While it was only a 10-6 loss to the Bunnies back in April, it was one of those games where we played poorly and didn't take our opportunities.
I know personally I was filthy following the match.
Our forwards were making the ground to get us up the park but our execution just was not there and I thought we let ourselves down.
We never want to lose to a team twice in one season, so if our forwards repeat their efforts of three months ago I reckon our attack will be ready to take full advantage this time around.
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Johnathan's Diary
25Jul07

Playing on through the pain

IT is true that I am carrying a few niggling injuries at the moment.
But rest assured, I'm not letting them affect me or my performance for the Cowboys.
While there is a possibility I could have to have off-season surgery on my shoulder, which is always a bit of a pain, it is not something that cannot wait.
To get me through I am doing a slightly different training regime to the rest the boys at the moment and getting plenty of physio work to make sure I am ready to go from each and every kick-off.
And I reckon it is working a treat.
Straight after a game I tend to feel pretty sore but after a couple of days I'm back to just about normal and, particularly since Origin finished, I can't complain too much.
While not ruling myself out at this stage, if I do have to have surgery, the most disappointing thing would be missing out on playing for Australia in the one-off Test against New Zealand on October 14.
As much as the representative season adds to the grind of a long year for the players, you would never find anyone knocking back pulling on the green and gold without a good reason and I am no different.
After working so hard over the years to make it to the international arena, you never like the thought of someone else wearing your jersey.
But with myself and Darren Lockyer both possibly being out of action for the Test, that could be the reality and, if so, selectors will have to find a new halves pairing to take on the Kiwis.
However, as much as I would like to be there, if I'm not I still want Australia to win and I have every confidence that they will.
The great thing about our country is we continue to produce some unbelievable talent so no matter who is selected I know they can get the job done.

• • • •

IT is not do-or-die time for us against the Wests Tigers next Monday night but it is very important we get back on the winner's list.
Despite losing our last couple of matches, the competition has been good to us, with results falling our way and allowing us to remain in the top four on the ladder.
However we cannot continue to rely on that happening if we want to secure a home final.
The Tigers are in a similar situation to us and playing at Leichhardt Oval is never an easy task, so we will have to come ready to play.
Wests will also welcome back two strike attacking weapons in Benji Marshall and Brett Hodgson.
I'm not certain that they will be at their best after so long on the sidelines through injury, but you can never underestimate class players.
One thing their return will give the Tigers is confidence.
As a result, the key for the Cowboys will be to get in their faces and ensure they aren't allowed to get on a roll at any stage, because everyone is aware how dangerous an on-fire Tigers team can be.
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Johnathan's Diary
01Aug07

Sticking together


BACK IN TOWN ... Cowboys Ben Farrar and Brenton Bowen sign autographs for fans at Townsville Airport yesterday

I MEANT every word I said when I spoke to the media following our loss on Monday night.
To get back to our best, panic is not an option for the Cowboys and we must stick together.
Yes, the 54-10 thrashing against the Wests Tigers was simply not good enough and it is safe to say no one was feeling very good about themselves in the hours after the fulltime whistle.
But pointing fingers and getting down on each other is not the answer either.
The great thing about the Cowboys since I got here in 2005 has been the way the team has always stayed strong, through the ups and the downs.
And there is no doubt that after Monday, our third straight loss, we are on one of those downs, but this is exactly where I expect our camaraderie to shine through.
We have a short turnaround before we play Canberra on Saturday night, so many of us will sit down, evaluate out performances, see what went wrong and where we can improve.
That just has to be done, there is no avoiding it.
However, once that has been taken care of early in the week, it will be time to refocus and get ready to take on the Raiders, who will be just as keen to win as us once they arrive in Townsville. For us, we are desperate to get back into the winners' circle and re-establish ourselves as a genuine top-four contender.
It is probably worth remembering that as bad as things might seem, the Cowboys are still well in the running to snare a finals game at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
Sure we've slipped back to eighth on the NRL ladder but it is only on for-and-against, meaning we are actually still tied for fourth place on a congested ladder.
With that in mind I have the upmost confidence that we have the wins left in us during the remaining five matches to make sure that points difference will not play a part in where North Queensland finishes at the end of the regular season.
We will no doubt have our doubters out there, but trust me when I say the Cowboys have the players, the coaching and support staff to bounce back quickly.

I RECKON I have the perfect way to push Ray Cashmere's jealousy button this week.
The big fella is an avid fan of celebrity pictures, never passing up an opportunity to pose with one of his idols.
Whenever he sees someone even slightly famous he cannot help himself, he has to go up and get a few snaps of himself with them.
He has built up a nice collection too, including Mark `Chopper' Read, Shannon Noll, `Aussie Joe' Bugner and Pat Rafter, among others. Razor is proud as punch of them all too, hanging them up in his locker at Dairy Farmers Stadium so everyone can see his brushes with fame.
But after receiving a package in the mail last week, I think I can outdo him.
After being lucky enough to meet and get a photo with Hugh Jackman a few weeks back, the Aussie Hollywood star signed the picture and sent it back to me.
While I was considering keeping the now framed photo at home, following a quick re-think I have decided it would probably look best hanging in my locker.
Beat that Razor.

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Johnathan's Diary
08Aug07

Title race wide open


KID DYNAMITE ... Melbourne Storm sensation Greg Inglis makes a break against the Cronulla Sharks on Monday night

ANYONE who said this year's NRL premiership race was basically a one-team contest has been put in their place.
With Melbourne running away with the minor premiership, a lot of the bookmakers and fans were just about conceding that the Storm were certainties to make up for last year's disappointment in the decider.
But thanks to the Sydney Roosters last week and Cronulla on Monday night, I think we have proof that the fight for the title is as open as ever.
What those teams did was prove that Melbourne are beatable, something I know a few people were not sure was possible.
The Storm deserve their favouritism for the premiership, there is no doubt about that, they have clearly been the most consistent team and they have match-winners all over the field.
However, like any team, they have weaknesses too.
While the Sharks eventually went down to Melbourne the other night in a thriller, they showed that pure enthusiasm and commitment can rattle anyone.
Cronulla put the Storm on the back foot with some rattling defence, a good kicking game and then exposed their edges with some slick backline movements.
The Roosters were similarly effective nine days earlier when they inflicted Melbourne's first defeat in seven games.
Chuck in representative hooker Cameron Smith, who was rested for the match against the Sharks, and the Storm are a different prospect altogether, I know.
But if ever fans wanted proof that this year's NRL season is more than a one-horse race then I think you just got it.
Two teams sitting well outside the competition's top eight giving the league's front-runners an almighty scare.
As players we never consider any one team unbeatable and I know at the Cowboys, losing is never in our minds at any stage of a buildup to a game.
By the end of round 25 there will be eight teams that legitimately believe premiership glory is within their grasp _ especially North Queensland.

I CAN'T really convey how great it was to run out in front of such a big and passionate crowd at Dairy Farmers Stadium when we took on Canberra on Saturday night.
After the few lean weeks we had had at the club, I don't think many other teams would have had as many loyal fans as we did show up to lend their support.
But that is the great thing about playing for North Queensland.
Far from being disheartened, the 15,000-plus on hand seemed as loud and intense as ever and I know that did no go unnoticed amongst the players.
A few of the boys were chatting after the match about how it really helped lift us when things were a little tight towards the end of the game.
While we are not expecting that type of support when we travel to play Penrith next Monday night, we'll be chasing a win so that we can come back to an even bigger reception when the Cowboys tackle the Dragons the following week.

A BIG congratulations to David Faiumu and his partner Belinda Malone, who welcomed their second daughter into the world last week.
`Fui' made the mad dash from Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday morning last week after receiving the news that Belinda had gone into labour.
I was on the trip to the airport with him and I can tell you he was one excited and anxious daddy to be.
David and Belinda named her Manaia May Faiumu-Malone, a NZ Maori name meaning spiritual garden provider.

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Johnathan's Diary
15Aug07

Golden point not all glitter


FEELS GREAT . . . Ashley Graham about to be swamped by elated teammates after scoring the match-winner on Monday

WHEN it comes to golden point, I reckon it could be time to compromise.
For the record let me state that I am a massive supporter of the sudden-death extra period to decide the outcome of a game.
And after Monday night I have been on both sides of a golden- point result, so I know the pain that comes with defeat in that situation as well as the elation of victory.
Walking off after a match with a draw is a really hollow feeling _ close-but-no-cigar kind of stuff _ so deciding it one way or another I see as being a huge benefit.
Most players love it and the fans are generally behind the concept as well.
But I also understand that there are many who would still like to see a draw left as it was up until 2002, where the teams split the competition points one apiece.
I can see their point too.
It must be difficult for a losing team to accept that they slugged their guts out for 80 minutes, didn't lose, yet came away with zero competition points.
A side that put in no effort and lost 50-0 could have achieved the same thing.
So why not change the way the points system works for golden point that keeps everybody happy?
The simplest solution I can see is that as soon as the fulltime siren sounds and the scores are even, both teams are automatically awarded one competition point for the draw.
Then the 10-minute extra-time period could allow the sides to battle over the other point to claim a full victory.
That way both teams are rewarded for their efforts over regulation time but the fans and the players get the satisfaction and the enjoyment of celebrating a result.
Everyone's a winner.
It isn't an entirely new concept, I know, but it is a format that has worked in the National Hockey League in the United States and Canada, so I cannot see why Australia would not have similar success if it was introduced here.

• • • •

HAVING said that, thoughts of how bad the Penrith players must have been feeling were not going through my mind when we won on Monday night.
I have been in some pretty exciting situations in rugby league, particularly in State of Origin and Test matches, but for a club match, winning that game against the Panthers would be hard to top.
We never gave in, even when Penrith got out by 10 points, we always felt we could win.
People might say it is just one of those things you say in hindsight, but I can tell you honestly, no Cowboy ever thought we were out of the game.
As most of you who watched the game would have seen, the celebrations afterwards were massive, as we all piled on to each other in the excitement.
The team song back in the change rooms was just as enthusiastic and if the Panthers players weren't already down after losing in such dramatic circumstances, they certainly would have been after that.
Our song echoed around CUA Stadium.

• • • •

AS captain I am meant to be the brains of the team, but that certainly was not the case in my column last week.
In my haste to congratulate David Faiumu and his partner Belinda Malone on the birth of their second daughter, I got the meaning of her name wrong.
So anyone who thought Manaia May Faiumu-Malone, a NZ Maori name meaning spiritual garden provider, was weird, you were right.
It should have been a NZ Maori name meaning spiritual guardian provider.
Sorry, Fui.

[Maroon_Faithful]

LOL, I didn't think " Spiritual garden provider," sounded right...

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Johnathan's Diary
22Aug07

Top-four finish eyed


INSPIRATIONAL ... Newcastle hooker and captain Danny Buderus, who returns from injury against the Cowboys

OBJECTIVE No .1 has been accomplished – qualifying for the NRL finals.
Now it is really important to make sure we finish in the top four.
At the moment the Cowboys sit in outright third place, an excellent achievement with two rounds remaining, but it is essential we do not get complacent.
We come up against an out-of-form Newcastle, who are coming off a thrashing at the hands of the last-placed Penrith Panthers, on Friday night.
However, we know that does not mean the game is as good as won.
The Knights are playing in their final match at home this year, they're desperate not to finish last and they will welcome back skipper Danny Buderus.
So there is plenty of motivation there for Newcastle.
And with Buderus back in the team, the Novacastrians will be a completely different proposition, trust me on that one.
`Bedsy' is an inspirational leader, the heart and soul of the Knights, he keeps them tight around the ruck and through the pure workload he gets through, other blokes in the side cannot help but lift.
We head south today with a true belief that we will be in for a torrid contest at EnergyAustarlia Stadium and I think that would be good for us.
The finals are going to be tough, grafting-type matches, so the more exposure we have to the tense finish the better I believe we will be if we are faced with that in September.

I AM happy to report that my team, dubbed `The Chairman's Table', beat all comers at our annual trivia day at the Mercure Inn on Sunday.
Holding off challenges from at least 20 other sides, Aaron Payne and myself proved once and for all who has the biggest brains at the Cowboys.
There were some that argued that having Laurence Lancini and his wife Sharon, a few girls from the Cowboys office and our dads at the table was what gave us our edge.
But whatever the knockers might believe, for the next 12 months Payney and myself are the undisputed trivia champions at the club.

WHILE proving just how clever we are was a big part of the day, the best fun came when all the boys unveiled various skits they had been working on during the season.
Payney and I teamed up again to create a Cowboys version of Bob Sinclair's hit song Love Generation.
With my hair I was the obvious choice for the kid on the bike, while Aaron was the man behind the magic, holding the camera and directing.
Upon my adventures riding around the twin cities (whistling of course) I ventured past Muzz's (coach Graham Murray) place and big Charlie (Carl) Webb's, who was mowing his lawn.
Then it was to the beach where three big Kiwis – Sione Faumuina, David Faiumu and Ben Vaeau – were coming out of the water, while I also rode past Borat (aka Ray Cashmere).
It was an early morning ride but as I cruised by the Hotel Allen who else was there but the Smiths – Justin and Jason – demanding they open the doors so they could have a quick heart-starter before training. The Young Guns guys got in on the act also, producing a couple of classic skits which included the highly popular Hahn Super Dry advertisement.
There were plenty of laughs and it was a good, fun day, just what we need as the pressures of finals football close in on us.

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Johnathan's Diary
29Aug07

Bear doesn't need words

THE fans who turn out at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday night are in for something pretty special.
Not only is it an opportunity to celebrate your team having qualified for a home final, but it will be a chance to witness Paul Bowman reach an almighty milestone.
The man we call `Bear' will become the first ever Cowboy to play 200 games for the club _ a huge achievement and one worthy of a sell-out crowd in my opinion.
Being the type of bloke that he is I know Paul will try to shy away from the excitment his feat will attract and play it down the best he can.
He definitely won't let the players and coaching staff go about saying stuff like `let's do it for Bear' when we tackle the Bulldogs in the final round of the regular season.
Paul is too much of a `put the team first' kind of guy to let that happen.
So you know what? We won't say it, we'll just do it.
Each and every player that runs out on Friday night knows how significant the night is and none of us will want him to leave the field as a loser.

• • • •

AS the captain of the Cowboys I think it is worth saying how proud I have been of the team over the past month.
After we were pretty heavily thumped by the Wests Tigers five rounds ago we all braced for the onslaught that was going to come with it and for us to be written off completely.
But the entire group stayed strong and showed that by sticking together we could come through the other end.
And when considering we have four front-line forwards out for the remainder of the season, that is no mean feat.
The guys who have come into the front and back row have been playing great, setting a strong platform and allowing myself and Matty (Bowen) to get amongst the points and link with the outside backs.
From being written off as title contenders, we have won four in a row now and I believe we are chugging along nicely enough to have a few teams looking over their shoulders.

• • • •


PRIZED POSSESSION ... Ray Cashmere has scored a trophy from the students at his Adopt-A-School, Wulguru State School

OUR big prop Ray Cashmere received a nice surprise when he went out and visited his Adopt-A-School, Wulguru State School, yesterday. Razor scored the first try of his first-grade career against the Dragons a couple of weeks back and the kids at Wulguru thought that was an achievement worth commemorating.
So with the school all together for an assembly they called Ray up on to the stage and handed him a trophy.
`Razor' was as proud as punch, too, putting it straight into his locker out at Dairy Farmers Stadium, placing it alongside his `wall of fame', which includes pictures of celebrities he has bailed up over the years.

• • • •

AFTER speaking to a few people about our home final, I got the impression that a lot of fans were not aware that us finishing in the top four is actually more important than ever.
While the Cowboys will play the first week of the finals at home, unlike previous seasons, that might not be the last time you get to see us play in Townsville.
There are a couple of scenarios involved, but as long as we win our game next week, the Cowboys will be back in town for one more finals appearance in North Queensland.
Here's hoping that we run out in front of our fans three more times in 2007!

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Johnathan's Diary
05Sep07

No double act


ENGINE ROOM ... Cowboys prop Matt Scott in action at Dairy Farmers Stadium

TWO-man team my foot.
You might think it is flattering to hear people consistently saying that without myself or Mango (Matt Bowen) the Cowboys would struggle.
But I am here to tell you it's not.
In fact, not only do I think it is untrue, but I also believe it is quite disrespectful to the other 15 blokes that run on to the field with us each week and slog their guts out.
Matty and I have enjoyed the season to date and have had a bit of success but ask any playmaker in the NRL and they will tell you that unless the guys around them are doing their jobs then they can't do theirs.
And it is no different at the Cowboys.
The guys in the front row, Carl Webb, Ray Cashmere and Matty Scott, have been giving us great go-forward in recent weeks which gives us plenty of room to move.
Take that away and all of a sudden me and Matty are having to start flat-footed and that is a recipe for disaster.
Our back-rowers are equally important in our engine room, getting over the advantage line and getting a roll on downfield.
Jacob Lillyman, Matt Bartlett, Sammy Faust, Justin Smith and Paul Bowman have been doing a great job for us, particularly when you think of how many guys we have got on the sideline in those positions.
Then our backline gets in on the act, taking pressure off the forwards when they might need a breather and putting themselves in the right place at the right time.
Neither Matty or myself could pass or kick for a try if those guys weren't reading the game well – it only takes half a metre in front or behind for a try-scoring opportunity to go begging.
The point is, the Cowboys are not and never have been a two-man team and, to be honest, I am a little tired of the media and opposition teams suggesting otherwise.
Take out the two key play-makers from any one team in the NRL and I would be prepared to bet their season would take a downward spiral.
While this North Queensland team is no different, to suggest two blokes and two blokes alone took the Cowboys into the NRL's top three is ridiculous.

IT'S semi-finals time and it is a whole new ball game.
The last 25 rounds do not mean anything now.
Every game will have a whole new atmosphere, a new intensity and will be physically and mentally more demanding on everyone.
Don't get me wrong, I am extremely proud that we have earned ourselves a home final on the back of five straight wins, but we are not getting carried away.
Finishing third was great and as a result we are in a strong position to go deep into the finals, but if we relax just a little – bang! – it could be all over.
Everyone at the Cowboys is determined not to let that happen.

WHAT an awesome preview we, as players, got last week to what we can expect to encounter at Dairy Farmers Stadium this Saturday night.
And I'm not just talking about the fact that we are playing the Bulldogs in back-to-back weeks.
The crowd was unbelievable.
The Cowboys' chant echoed around the stadium like nothing I have heard during my three years here in Townsville and I can tell you, it had an effect on the players.
With a bigger crowd expected to be on hand on Saturday night, I reckon the Bulldogs will be dreading having to make a repeat trip north.

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Johnathan's Diary
12Sep07

Henry's heroics save day


TWINKLETOES ... Mark Henry tries to wrongfoot the Dogs defence on Saturday night

MARK Henry's turn and chase on a flying Hazem El Masri last Saturday night is what finals football is all about.
There isn't a Cowboys player or fan who will forget that moment for a long time and who was not extremely appreciative of the effort `H' put in.
It was a sensational kick from Bulldogs halfback Brent Sherwin – pinpoint perfection – landing directly in El Masri's arms and seemingly sending him on a 40m dash to score the match-winning try.
Because, let's face it, with just two minutes to go in the game, if El Masri had got to the tryline that is what it was – the deciding moment of the contest.
But while Mark had plenty of ground to make up he did not give in and his slight touch to tip El Masri off balance was just enough to let `Mango' (Matt Bowen) finish him off in cover defence.
A millisecond later and we could very well be playing Parramatta in Sydney on Saturday night rather than the Warriors at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

FUNNILY enough, Mark reckons he had been waiting for the Bulldogs to try something crafty like that crossfield kick for most of the game.
Marking up on the wing, `H' would notice Hazem move out to the touchline and follow him just in case the Dogs were planning something.
He said the one time he didn't notice, leaving Hazem with a bit of room, was of course when the tricky play came.
I think it just proves once more how exceptionally well Mark did to not only turn and chase, but make the play.

SIX of our blokes tasted a brand of football they had never experienced before last Saturday and from the looks on their faces after the game it was obvious they liked it.
Finals footy is a step up from the regular season. It's quicker, harder and more intense.
But our finals rookies – Mark Henry, Ray Cashmere, Matt Bartlett, Ben Farrar, Ash Graham and Sam Faust – certainly did not look out of place.
They took it to the Bulldogs and let them know they were in a game of football.
With the Warriors coming to town this week for a sudden-death version of the finals I am confident that they will all be better for the experience.

I SEE that having to travel to Townsville has seen the New Zealand team end up with the underdogs' tag for Sunday afternoon's semi-final.
And while we are more than happy to be favourites, we are certainly taking nothing for granted.
The Warriors contain some of the best players running around in the NRL and if we are even slightly off our game we know we could be made to pay dearly.
I thought I would take a quick look at a few of the key players we will need to shut down if the Cowboys are to continue past week two of the finals.

Wade McKinnon:
His support play and ability in broken field play make him an extreme danger man. If we want to dull his effectiveness our kick-chase game needs to be spot-on, while we must also be on guard anytime he even looks like getting involved.

Steve Price:
This bloke is a machine. He's a great carrier of the ball and always seems to be able to produce a quick play-the-ball. A player of Price's ability is almost impossible to stop altogether so it comes down to trying to limit his effectiveness. Trying to put him on his back in a tackle is a major start.

Grant Rovelli and Michael Witt:
If the Warriors get some go-forward, these guys know how to exploit it. They have good running and kicking games and their vision is also exceptional. If we give them too much room to move we will be punished, so it is up to us to take the initiative away from them.

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Johnathan's Diary
19Sep07

Mood positive

TODAY'S the day. The day I find out whether or not I will be free to tackle the Manly Sea Eagles this Saturday night.
And while the nerves are jangling with my fate resting in the hands of three men at the NRL judiciary, I head to Sydney this morning feeling pretty confident as well. The club is extremely positive and I know they have been doing absolutely everything in their power to mount a strong defence and have my charge for a dangerous throw overturned. Assistant coach Grant Bell and football manager Kelly Egan have been poring through footage of the incident, while the man in charge of my defence, Geoff Bellew, certainly knows what he is doing in front of the judiciary. Since Sunday I have been asked seemingly a thousand times what I remember of the incident and my truthful response is: "I don't really." I did not think there was much in it at the time and even after having a couple of looks at it on video I still feel pretty positive that I don't have a lot to be worried about. The intent of my tackle was always to put Wairangi (Koopu) on his back, but the big Warriors forward twisted, trying to land on his front so that he could get a quick play-the-ball – that's where the `dangerous throw' look of the tackle came from and there was certainly no driving him into the ground. Now I just hope the judiciary sees it the same way.

WHILE the rugby league world seems to be focused on whether or not I will be able to play, I can tell you that it is business as usual for me and the Cowboys at the moment. In fact, among the players we haven't really even discussed the incident and we probably won't. Sure, they have wished me luck and said they hope everything goes well, but let's face it, there is absolutely no value in sitting around and moping, especially when we have such an important game in front of us. There is no point getting my hopes up or fearing the worst, either, that helps no one. So for me and the rest of the boys, we are doing our best not to think about it and treating our preparation like it was any other week.

I DO not want to sound like a whinger, but the NRL's decision on which teams play on which days this week screams of poor scheduling. It is semi-final time so I would have played the day after we beat the Warriors if I had to, but for Parramatta to have eight days to prepare and recover for their game and for us to have six just doesn't sit well. At the Cowboys we have played on the the back of six days' preparation before, even five, so it is not a huge issue for us and it certainly will not stop us from giving it our all against Manly. But at this time of year I would have thought everything should be as even as possible. Why couldn't we play on Sunday and Parramatta on Saturday so that both sides were at an equal advantage of seven days between games?

WE have had a couple of great weeks of finals football playing at our home base, but it's time to get the job done without our fanatical fans on Saturday. But we hold no fears heading to Sydney. Personally, Aussie Stadium is a ground that I like, I have some great memories there with the Bulldogs, the Cowboys and playing for Australia in the Tri-Nations. On Saturday I hope to extend that run of good memories.

[Maroon_Faithful]

Jt's hearing starts in about half an hour. After seeing all the incidents that have escaped suspension this year that all looked similarly like Thurston's he should be free to play against Manly. For the good of RL I sincerely hope he beats the charge. Good luck Johnathon.

[Retread]

Your prayers were answered

[Retread]

Johnathan's Diary
26Sep07

Still successful season


YOUNG BUCKS ... youthful Cowboys trio Jacob Lillyman, Ashley Graham and Matthew Bartlett

THERE is no doubt that I, and the rest of the Cowboys, wish it was us, not Manly, tackling Melbourne on Sunday night.
But just because North Queensland fell one game short of playing in a second grand final in three seasons does not make the year any less successful in my eyes.
With injuries, suspensions and a few pretty ordinary results along the way, it would be fair to say that not everything went the way that we would have liked.
Yet the Cowboys showed just how strong the club is by defying the odds time and time again to give the NRL competition one hell of a shake.
If someone had told me before the season started that we would be heading into round 23 minus four of our best forwards – namely Luke O'Donnell, Shane Tronc, Sione Faumuina and Steve Southern – I would have been a little worried about our finals prospects.
But what those situations present is a chance for other blokes to show just what they can do if given an opportunity.
The fellas that came in, guys like Sam Faust, Ben Vaeau and Matt Bartlett, took their chance with both hands and will be far better for the experience in 2008.
What it has also done is strengthen the depth at the club.
Assuming everyone is fit and healthy (fingers crossed) when next season kicks off, picking the team is going to be a tough task for the coaching staff.
It will be hard to overlook the guys that did the job for us in the second half of 2007, but you have also got to find a place for the players who have been there and done it before.
It's a great position to be in really.
You can bet the pre-season, which gets under way on November 26, is going to be intense as players look to score a place in the first couple of trial matches.

AS I write this I am lying in a hospital bed at the Mater Hospital waiting to go in to have surgery on my right shoulder and right knee (arthroscope).
I don't mind telling you that I am pretty nervous given that this is the first time I have gone under the knife during my career.
But getting it out of the way now is definitely the right move.
As everyone in the rugby league world is now aware, my shoulders have been an issue for me most of the season and having both reconstructed was always on the agenda.
My right shoulder is by far the worst so I am getting it done first while the left one will be done in five weeks.
If everything goes to plan (cross some more fingers) I should be fully recovered by the time the 2008 season starts in March.
With the surgery ruling me out of representative duties for Australia, I will be doing my best to relax and recover from a long and tough season.
It will be the same for the rest of the guys.
The club has given us a two-month break from training and I think everyone will be better for it.

WITH this being my last column of the year I wanted to chuck out a few thank yous.
Firstly, to the Cowboys' fans. Your support this year has been incredible and I know there is not a player or official at the club who do not appreciate your efforts.
Win, lose or draw, you guys turn out in force – not many other NRL teams can boast that type of loyalty.
Secondly, I want to thank my teammates for letting me talk about them and even poke fun at them each week in the Bulletin.
It would have been very easy to get annoyed but they have all been great sports.

See you all in 2008.

[Retread]

We can crash Titans' party
12Mar08


LETHAL WEAPON ... Gold Coast's chief playmaker Scott Prince trains at Runaway Bay yesterday

WE really could not have asked for a tougher way to kick off the NRL season.
Round one at the new $160 million Skilled Park, in front of a packed pro-Gold Coast crowd – there is no doubt that the Titans' players will be running high on emotion.
They will be desperate to open their new stadium with a bang and send us back to Townsville with our tails between our legs.
But don't fear, at the Cowboys we have plenty of our own motivations, with one being to play the role of party-poopers.
And I truly believe we have the team that can do it.
With a full-strength forward pack finally at our disposal and taking us forward, our makeshift halves will have plenty of opportunities to create points.
Travis Burns has slotted nicely into the No. 7 jersey in my absence, while having Justin Smith outside of him at five-eighth will help provide the cool head we need.
Smithy was rock solid in our final trial game against Canberra a couple of weeks back and his defence on the fringes made a big difference.
He'll have to do the same again on Friday, particularly if he crosses paths with Gold Coast's chief playmaker, Scott Prince, who was in dazzling form during the trials.
Scotty made us look a little bit silly on a few occasions when we played a trial against the Titans last month, opening us up out wide and creating room for the speedsters.
It's hard just to flat-out stop a player of his class and take him out of the game altogether, but there are ways to make sure guys like him don't completely mesmerise the defence.
The key, I think, is to cut down his thinking time – getting in his face defensively.
No halfback likes to have to continuously rush their plays, so if we can make him do that then we will have gone a long way to limiting his effectiveness.
So while the Titans may have taken a slight mental edge out of their trial win over us in Cairns, I reckon we learned more than enough to help us open the season with a win.

I WILL be watching from the grandstand at Skilled Park on Friday night, but I am not down in the dumps about it.
Sure, I would rather be out there playing, but that feeling has sort of been over-ridden by the fact that we are back playing footy again.
After a pre-season of hard work everyone in the camp is excited and it is hard not to get swept up in the anticipation.
And, in a way, I think it will be kind of interesting to watch a game from a different perspective – I'll get to see how the fans enjoy a round-one blockbuster.

NEVER in my life did I think getting a couple of wings tattooed on my back would create such a stir, but apparently it has.
Ever since photos were published recently I have had plenty of questions about my latest `inking', while I have been told rugby league web forums have also been discussing them.
So, just to settle a few curiosities, here's some insight into the design.
There is no real significance to the wings, my mates and I were on the internet searching for tattoo designs when it caught my eye.
It took almost eight hours and, I can tell you, it hurt way more than the one I got a few years back on my arm.
But with a lady being the one doing the work I'm pretty confident I managed to pull off the tough guy act without her knowing just how much pain I was in.
– JOHNATHAN THURSTON

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary
19Mar08


SURPRISE INCLUSION ... Johnathan Thurston cools down against the Titans at Skilled Park last Friday night

ALL this talk saying that I knew weeks ago that I would be playing last Friday is rubbish.
At no stage was I trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.
Sure, I wanted to play, I hate missing games so I desperately wanted to lead the boys out on to Skilled Park against the Gold Coast in round one.
But it was not until late on Wednesday that I knew I could play and thought I was up to the challenge without being at any real risk of re-injuring my shoulders.
I got the all-clear to resume contact training from our club specialist Dr John McGuire on Monday and that certainly helped lift my spirits considerably.
Then, after getting through a bit of pad work the following day, I pulled up so well that I thought I would up the ante.
And what better way to test myself than to try to take down a few of the hardest ball runners at the club – Luke O'Donnell and Jacob Lillyman, among others.
Again I pulled up sweet, so when `Muzz' (North Queensland coach Graham Murray) came up to me and asked how I felt, I let him know I wanted to be considered.
From that point on the decision on playing was mine and mine alone.
There was no pressure from anyone at the club, players and coaches included, for me to come back before I was ready to.
When I did make up my mind then the club decided it would be best to keep it behind closed doors rather than make it public knowledge.
The thought process was that if my plans were to change, for whatever reason, then there was no point having it out there only for me to fall flat on my face.

DESPITE feeling like I was going to suck in the stadium at times because I was blowing so hard against the Titans, I was reasonably pleased with my return.
It would just have been nice if a win had come along with it, but it didn't, so we will be out to make sure we turn things around when we meet up with the Wests Tigers.
After reviewing footage of our effort against the Titans it was pretty clear we needed to fix up our discipline and show a bit more respect for the ball.
Even without Benji Marshall, the Tigers have some pretty handy players in attack, like Robbie Farah and Brett Hodgson, who will pounce if we give them too much possession.

A FEW fans have asked me if we will be out for revenge on Saturday night after the Tigers cleaned us up by 44 points late last season.
But I can honestly say that I have not even thought about using that as motivation, while I have not heard any of the other boys talking about it either.
When we play Wests there are plenty of reasons to get fired up anyway, especially when you think back a few years to the 2005 grand final when they got us in the decider.
While it doesn't dominate our thoughts, it's undeniable that with so many players from both teams still remaining from that grand final that there is a little bit of extra feeling between the teams.
It is nothing spiteful, though, and I think it's healthy for rugby league.

WE had a day away from the training paddock yesterday, turning our attentions to the golf course instead.
It was a fun day but I fear I may have inflicted a back injury on Justin Smith, who was forced to carry me for our entire nine holes of ambrose action.
Despite Smithy's brave attempts at making up for my poor form, Matt `Happy Gilmore' Scott and Luke `Shark' O'Donnell came out on top in a final-hole playoff for victory.

Great topicHere is a few words about *EDIT ADMIN*

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary: shoulder charge must stay
JOSH ALSTON
26Mar08


KA-BANG ...Brisbane Bronco Karmichael Hunt, left, rearranges Rooster Braith Anasta's features last Friday night

IF the NRL bans shoulder charges then I may as well escort fans from games myself.
Because that is exactly what will happen – our great game will lose supporters.
No one likes to see another player get hurt, let alone have to be taken from the field unconscious, but shoulder charges are among the most exciting things about our sport.
Rugby union has outlawed the tackle, but I truly believe following that move would be a mistake by the NRL's people in power.
Look at any rugby league highlights package and what do you see? Big blokes flooring other big blokes with a well-timed shoulder charge.
Taking that weapon from Bulldog Sonny Bill Williams' arsenal would be like telling me I can no longer throw cut-out passes.
Also, try telling our own wrecking ball Carl Webb that he can no longer rattle a few cages with the play.
Sometimes even us little fellas get in on that action, which can make it all the more exciting, particularly if it is on someone far bigger.
Although the less said about my effort against the Wests Tigers at the weekend, probably the better, I think.
I'm not exactly sure how many metres I bounced back after my point of impact, but it would be fair to say I did not achieve the result I aimed for when I came in for the hit.
My point is, the shoulder charge, something that has been done in rugby league since the code was created way back in 1908, adds excitement to the game.
On the field a well-timed shoulder to an opponent has the ability to lift the players around you, and I don't think it would be going too far to say it can be a match-winning play.
In the stands, the atmosphere in the stadium lifts considerably when the teams are throwing themselves at one another, so it's clear the fans love it too.
Of course the reason for the suggestion of the removal of the tactic from rugby league is due to player safety, which is something that cannot be underestimated.
The issue has become extremely prominent in the media after a couple of shoulder shots went wrong on the weekend, leaving a couple of players feeling a little worse for wear.
Sydney Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta was left with a busted nose after coming into contact with Brisbane Bronco Karmichael Hunt's shoulder.
And in our game against the Tigers, Wests skipper Brett Hodgson was knocked unconscious after he took a knock to the head from Ash Graham.
Like I have already said, injuries are the last thing you want to see as a player, but in these cases I am not 100 per cent convinced that the shoulder charges were solely responsible for the injuries.
In both cases the players on the end of the hits were falling into the tackle, which led to the contact with the head – there was certainly no intent to go high.
No matter what style of tackle Karmichael or Ashley would have gone for in the situation, even a copybook effort, it is likely their opponent would have taken a whack.
Just picture it, Ash is down ready to take Hodgson around the hips when, as he did on Saturday night, the Tiger falls into the tackle.
Bam! Hodgson is not feeling too good.
The fact is accidents happen, but just because a couple happen in quick succession does not mean we need to go out and ban things that are highlights of our sport.
Rugby league is a contact sport and, while unfortunate, with that comes injuries – just ask a few of my teammates about last season.
If we ban everything that could lead to an injury then we may as well just start playing touch footy.

[Retread]

JT's diary
02Apr08


BUNDLE DROPPED . . . despondent Cowboys after conceding a try against the Tigers

DROPPING our bundle when things get tough has been a key problem for the Cowboys in the first three weeks of competition.
A dropped ball or a penalty against us at a key time has resulted in our heads collectively going down and with it, so has our focus.
It has proven costly time and time again.
And it is fair to say that on occasion I am not blameless in that department, which I know just isn't good enough in my position.
In my role as captain and halfback I am there to steady the ship in those situations, to get everyone focused on the task at hand and ready to fight for the hard yards.
The guys look to me for inspiration and if I am looking as down and depressed as they feel
then how can I expect them to turn it all around?
It is certainly not my style at all to react that way and I generally like to think I am more positive than that, so it is something that I will be looking to stamp out of my game.
I have been asked if my shoulders, which if you didn't already know I had operated on during the off-season, have been weighing on my mind, but the answer is `no'.
My shoulders are fine and to say the thought of re-injuring them or anything like that is distracting me from the job in front of me would be an excuse.
No, the problem for us at the moment is confidence.
We cannot hide from the fact that we have had three dismal losses to start the season but, as a group, I am confident that if we stay tight we can get through it.
After all, it is only three rounds into the season _ that means we have 21 games where we can turn it all around.
Outside of the club there has been talk of crises and the like going through the team, but I can tell you that is the furthest thing from the truth.
We spoke about our form at our weekly video session on Monday afternoon and I walked away from that feeling pretty positive.
The thing is, we are not too far off the pace.
We have been competitive in games for the first 30 minutes in each of the three matches, but then the mental lapses have crept into our game.
Our aim against Parramatta on Saturday night will be to eliminate those lapses, compete for longer and then things will start to turn around for us.


THE future of the Cowboys' coaching position has been a hot topic in the media this week and there has even been suggestions that the drama is affecting the team.
But I can tell you that is not true.
We spoke as a group after the club announced `Muzz' (Graham Murray) would not be coaching the team after this season and decided then and there that there was no point looking ahead.
In my opinion there is far too much work to do right here and now to be worrying about what 2009 might hold.
And as far as discontent surrounding `Muzz' is concerned, forget about that too.
He has been a great coach for the club over the past seven years.
There have been a lot players that have been under him and gone on to play rep footy, including myself, or established themselves as first-graders.
Trust me when I say all that talk coming from outside the club is exactly that _ talk.
Now, let's just play footy.

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary with JOHNATHAN THURSTON
09Apr08


TOO SLOW ... Cowboys fullback Ash Graham shows his Parramatta counterpart Luke Burt a clean pair of heels

AS players, we turned it around on the field on Saturday night but the Cowboys coaching staff deserve the biggest wraps.
The pressure at the club was enormous after we dropped our first three games and there is no doubt we needed that win over Parramatta to release some of the strain.
In our losses to Gold Coast, Wests Tigers and Brisbane we were comprehensively beaten on the scoreboard but we didn't feel we were too far away from being a good team again.
It was more the little things that were letting us down.
But rather than drill us on those areas in the build-up to our game against the Eels, our coaches did completely the opposite – they changed the focus all together.
`Muzz' (Graham Murray), `Basil' (Ian Millward) and Matty Parish reminded us that football is about fun and that that is what needed to get back to having on the field.
They were absolutely right.
While we continued to work hard, the focus was enjoyment and I have to admit I don't think I have seen us have that much fun as a group in quite a while.
All the games we played at training during the week were obviously rugby league themed, with defence and skilled-based exercises given plenty of emphasis. But with `punishments' of six shuttles – a series of sprints – handed out to the losing teams there was also a massive incentive not to be on the wrong end of a result.
It produced plenty of energy and enthusiasm and all round lifted the spirits of the entire squad, I reckon.
One game saw an attacking team of 12 players trying to score past nine opponents.
In the next round it would be 12 on eight, then 12 on seven and so on.
It was a tough one on the defending team, but we're all super competitive and no one wanted to lose ever, which turned a few of the boys into big kids.
Oh, and I mean that in a good way.
And, as they say, the proof was in the pudding on Saturday night as we shook off a dismal start to get our 2008 campaign well and truly under way.
If we had just gone to training and focused on everything that was going wrong, pored through the areas we needed to improve, I'm certain the result would not have been anywhere near as positive.
The training staff of Steve `Hoops' Hooper and Glen `Murph' Murphy also kept things fun and entertaining in the gym, which also helped our mindsets before the game.
After a win we as players get plenty of kudos, but, while they are always important to our preparation, on this occasion more than ever I really believe our coaching staff deserve to take a bow as well.


ALTHOUGH all of us at the Cowboys should take tremendous satisfaction in the way we played against Parra, we need to back it up against the Dragons this week.
There are still areas we will be looking to improve on ahead of Saturday's clash at WIN Stadium and while spirits are high we know we have to put in another good performance or risk losing touch with the teams at the top of the NRL ladder.
This early in the season we definitely do not want that to happen.
Like us, St George Illawarra have probably been a bit patchy so far this year, but there is no denying their class.
With Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper in the centres they have two of the finest attacking weapons in the game, capable of winning games off their own back.
One win doesn't make a season and we need to prove that in round five.

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary: Sympathy for Smith's plight
16Apr08

HEAVY LOAD ... troubled Parramatta Eels halfback Tim Smith announces he is battling bipolar disorder on Monday


I CANNOT help but sympathise with Tim Smith's plight this week and I am sure the rest of the rugby league community feels the same way.
The Eels halfback revealed on Monday that his 18-month battle with bipolar disorder combined with constant public pressure had driven him to the brink of quitting the NRL.
While I love my job and would not change it for the world, I can certainly see how the pressures that come with being a sports star could be hard to deal with.
The media is probably the most difficult aspect to handle and, without really knowing Tim, I reckon that was the biggest area affecting his life.
When you are playing well, it can be easy to get caught up in your own hype, perhaps start living the superstar life-style and cashing in on all the luxuries that come with it.
Alternatively, if you get caught up in the highs, it would be pretty hard not to get down on the world when you are not performing to your potential.
You're trying to do your best, to get back as good as you know you can be, but everywhere you look, the TV, the newspaper or the radio are slamming your efforts.
It's not that it doesn't happen in North Queensland, but in the cut-throat atmosphere of Sydney I would imagine it would be far worse.
NRL players would be under the microscope far more down south than they are here, with every move they make a chance of ending up in the newspapers.
If I were to run into Tim, my advice would be simple – don't read, watch or listen to anything about yourself, whether it is good or bad.
It's not going to 100 per cent release the pressure, but it is a start.
It is my philosophy and I think it has served me pretty well so far in my career.
Sure, there are things that I wish I hadn't done and that I could have changed at the time, but I can't so I have got to move forward.
The good thing is Tim has realised things are getting a bit too much for him and decided to take some time away from footy.
I admire that and think it was the right thing to do.
His health needs to be his main concern because, let's face it, a football career only lasts about 10 years but you need your health for the rest of your life. I know the entire football community hopes he gets through this and gets back to his best as soon as possible.

`MUZZ' (coach Graham Murray) had the team rolling around on the floor in hysterics on Monday while doing our video review of Saturday's win over the Dragons.
Our eagle-eyed coach found footage of our hot-headed hooker Anthony Watts in the middle of an on-field run-in with St George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles.
After the pair – 87kg and 115kg respectively – made contact off the ball and we were awarded a penalty, Wattsie turned around and gave Ryles an absolute gobful.
Fair dinkum, he looked as if he was going to go over and whack the big fella.
`Muzz' said: `Forget about the Carl Webb versus Willie Mason heavyweight boxing match-up, keep an eye on the undercard of Watts-Ryles for the real entertainment'. THIS week is the NRL's heritage round and I truly believe that each player that gets the honour of playing should feel proud.
It should mean something to us all.
For starters, the jersey each of us wear will be one of just 17 on-field jerseys that will be made but, more than that, we will be playing for everyone that has played before us.
Just in case you don't already know, the predominantly blue uniform we will wear is a tribute to the 1966 North Queensland team that defeated a Great Britain touring side.
– JOHNATHAN THURSTON

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary: `Lou' Henry an unsung hero
23Apr08

DECEPTIVE STRENGTH ... Cowboys winger/centre Mark Henry, rated pound-for-pound the strongest at the club


FOR three seasons Mark Henry has slipped between the NRL and the Queensland Cup, probably not really knowing where he belonged.
But, after the way he has performed at the start of the 2008 season, I think he should be confused no more – he is a first- grader, without a shadow of a doubt.
Shifting between the wing and centres in the opening six weeks of the competition, Mark has been our rock and one of our most consistent week-in, week-out.
And from someone who has seen how much effort this guy from the ACT puts in both on and off the field, it's great to see his hard work beginning to pay off.
`H' or `Lou' as he can be known around the club, is all about extras, regularly staying behind after training to work on the little things that might give him a bit of an edge.
That's how he is during a game too, doing a lot of the work that might sometimes go unnoticed by the fans, but is very much appreciated by his teammates and coaches.
Like on Saturday night against the New Zealand Warriors when he retrieved kicks from the in-goal area and somehow got back out into the field of play.
It might not seem like much, but that effort means that each time we were able to avoid another set of six in defence and that is greatly appreciated by everyone.
I think he has also shown how deceptively strong he is in 2008, particularly in defence.
I'm not sure how many guys Mark has forced into touch with a powerful tackle this year, but I'm confident each of them got up wondering what truck they had been hit by.
That comes from those `extras' I was telling you he does.
Mark is a weights freak, he loves nothing more than to work out with dumbbells or a barbell, which makes sense given that he is also a personal trainer at Fit Solutions.
As a result, pound-for-pound I reckon he would be one of the strongest players at the Cowboys and he would certainly towel me up in a weight-lifting competition.
Not that that is much to gloat about, most players at the club probably could, but trust me when I tell you `H' is one strong bloke.
It's also where his nickname `Lou' comes from – as in Lou Ferrigno from the 1977 weight-lifting documentary with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron, who also starred in The Incredible Hulk.
Basically, Mark is the ultimate professional, doing what he has to do to play in the best rugby league competition in the world and he deserves to consider himself an NRL player.


OUR win over the Warriors on the weekend was excellent but we cannot start thinking we have made a full recovery from our poor start to the year.
Sure we're on our way, but there is still plenty of work to be done before we return to our blistering form of late 2007 or even 2005.
That is particularly important for all of us to remember heading into Saturday night's clash with the Melbourne Storm at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
If there is a team that can snap you back into reality it is defending premiers Melbourne.
With plenty of quality players at their disposal, they can rack up a big score on an opposition in no time whatsoever.
All we need to do is look back to the last time they travelled to Townsville and pasted us 58-12, if we need a reminder on that front.
That was a dark night for us and the type of performance we never want to put on in front of our home fans ever again.
But, in saying that, this is a new season and a new game so I can assure you we will not be taking any 2007 demons into the match.

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary: Charlie deserves jumper
30Apr08

LONG WAIT OVER ... Carl Webb has finally cracked a spot in the Australian Test team after unluckily missing out in recent years


AS pleased as I was to hear my name read out for the Australian team on Sunday, I think I was just as excited to hear Carl Webb's.
Big `Charlie' could have been forgiven for thinking his chances of playing Test football were beginning to fade, or even that he was cursed when it came to being selected.
On my count Webby probably should have been called up to play for his country at least four times, but on each occasion something, usually injury, has cut him down.
Our big prop was in blistering form early last year before he broke his jaw ahead of the Anzac Test and then a calf strain again ended his hopes at the end of the season.
In 2006 Carl was called in for the Tri-Nations, but a knee injury stopped him.
And a year earlier – well, he will probably be the first to admit he blew his chances with a brain explosion that sidelined him through suspension for six weeks.
The point is, it would have been easy for him to start thinking that pulling on the green and gold might never happen and just settle into that mindset.
Maybe another player would have and that would be understandable, I reckon.
But that's not how `Charlie' operates.
He was never going to give in and from mine, and I am sure all the Cowboys club's perspective, it is great to see all his hard work finally pay off.
By his own admission, Carl has achieved a fair bit during his nine seasons as an NRL player, but representing his country was something he desperately wanted to do.
When I congratulated him the next day he was still bubbling with excitement and, even without asking him, I could tell that his dream had finally come true.
Just don't ask him about how he `teared up' when he received the news.
Carl swears blind that, while he got a little emotional when he got off the phone, he did not start crying and he's sticking to it.
While it's great news for him that he will be running out to face New Zealand in Sydney on Friday week, I'm also pretty stoked that the Cowboys' No. 1 enforcer will be there.
I have played behind `Charlie' at NRL and State level and, as a halfback, knowing he is there clearing a path for me makes my job a heck of a lot easier.
And there is no question he will provide the same presence against the Kiwis.
Although I have read in the media that Webby's aggression means he is `made' for State of Origin, there is no doubt in my mind that the same goes at the international level.
No matter what, New Zealand always have an imposing forward pack and to compete against them you have to be able to fight fire with fire.
With Carl coming off the bench midway through the first half, I imagine, Australia will be introducing their own inferno of aggression and intimidation.
It could even be what gives the Aussie team the edge and, for Webby, I hope it is.


WE will head to Sydney this weekend expecting to face a fired-up Rabbitohs outfit.
While nothing seems to be going right for South Sydney, they are certainly due to string a full 80 minutes together and surprise someone – we're just hoping it's not us.
And after a controversial buildup, where five players were dropped due to disciplinary reasons, there will be even more reason for them to perform at ANZ Stadium.
The key for us is to come out hard and fast and knock any confidence they might have out of them from the opening whistle.
If we give them even the slightest sniff we could be punished.
– JOHNATHAN THURSTON

[Retread]

Thursto's Diary: credibility at stake in Test
07May08

LISTEN HERE, SONNY ... NZ assistant coach Wayne Bennett shares his knowledge with star Kiwi Sonny Bill Williams yesterday


FOR the sake of international rugby league, the Kiwis must push Australia in the Centenary Test on Friday night.
From a selfish point of view I would love nothing more than to help lead another rout of our arch-rivals, but in a World Cup year I think it is the last thing that should happen.
As most rugby league fans will remember, the last time the Aussies played New Zealand we ran amok, ripping them to shreds 58-0.
Then they headed over to England where the results didn't get much better and the only win they managed on tour was a come-from-behind effort against minnows France.
For a team ranked among the top three rugby league-playing nations in the world, even the Kiwis, I'm sure, will admit those results were not good enough.
Rugby league has a great chance to gain some international credibility when Australia hosts the World Cup in October, with nine other teams coming to our shores.
But for it to be a success it needs to be competitive.
And that is essential from both an on-field and an off-field perspective, with the numbers of people coming through the gates playing just as big of a role in the success as the guys running around on the paddock.
That's why New Zealand must give us a run for our money in Sydney on Friday night.
If we towel up the Kiwis in a couple of days' time that will be the last memory the public will have of the international game and it will hardly inspire people to get to the games.
On the other hand, a tough, rugged and tight game should have the opposite effect.
As much as sports fans love to watch the Australians win in any fashion, I am pretty sure they more enjoy watching us winning tough than winning easy.
That said, we certainly aren't expecting a blow-out at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
This Test match, to celebrate rugby league's 100th year, is not just a normal Test, it's a hugely significant event in the code's history and I don't think that is lost on either team.
On top of that we know that last year wasn't a good one for the Kiwis and that will just pump them up even more to return to the form they know they are capable of.
They have a new coach in Stephen Kearney, while Wayne Bennett is also on the coaching staff and the team they have picked is as good as I have seen.
As always New Zealand have named a big side but it probably isn't as big as in previous Tests I have played against them.
They seem to have gone for a big but mobile outfit, so as well as matching their bash and barge, we will have to be prepared to counter their second-phase play.
I am also expecting that mentally they will be very switched on for the clash.
From speaking to a couple of New Zealand boys in the Cowboys team, they reckon Kearney was the perfect choice to take over from Gary Kemble.
Not only is he assistant coach at Melbourne under Craig Bellamy, but he is a guy the players looked up to when he was running around in the black and white of New Zealand.
To put it simply, he inspires them, so they won't be just trying to win for themselves, they will want to win for him _ that will make them even tougher.
Then Bennett, probably the most celebrated coach in rugby league's history, will be there letting them know exactly what it takes to compete at the international level.
Far from a blow-out, I reckon this Test match has the makings of one of the best matches in a long time.
– JOHNATHAN THURSTON

[Retread]

Thursto's diary: backline bristles with stars
14May08

WATER WING ... Melbourne Storm superstar Israel Folau relaxes in the pool at the Queensland Origin medicals yesterday


AS a halfback I can barely contain my excitement when I look at the quality of the Queensland backline I will be working with in this year's State of Origin series.
Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate and Billy Slater – it really is an all-star line-up – and I am pretty certain I'm not the only one who believes that.
In fact, I reckon New South Wales will look at that and wonder what exactly they are going to do trying to stop them, and it's a fair enough question.
I'm not saying they are an unstoppable force or that the Blues won't be able to shut them down, but trying to contain all of them will prove difficult, I have no doubt about that.
One thing I am not going to do is say it is the best Queensland backline of all time – that would be disrespectful to Maroons teams of the past.
After all, imagine trying to contain a side boasting Allan Langer, Wally Lewis, Gary Belcher, Mal Meninga, Michael Hancock and Tony Currie, as the incredible 1989 team had at its disposal.
But what I can say is that it is without any doubt the best backline I have ever had the pleasure of steering around the park as a No. 7.
That is an exciting prospect and it also makes my job a lot easier in the pressure cooker of Origin football, knowing the quality of players I have outside me.
The bulk of them are all young, big, strong and fast, so I am much happier to be playing with them on my side rather than have them coming at me.
It is also pretty sweet knowing that I will be partnered in the halves by my good mate, Bronco Karmichael Hunt, who was named to play at five-eighth.
A few people may have raised an eyebrow at `K', a supposed specialist fullback, coming into the play-making role, but trust me when I say this is a good decision by Queensland selectors.
Without the admittedly irreplaceable Darren Lockyer, who is injured, Karmichael will prove a more than adequate replacement and slot into the position with relative comfort.
Despite wearing the No. 1 at Brisbane he is not unaccustomed to marshalling the troops at NRL level, often stepping in to take the heat off Lockyer and Peter Wallace.
`K' is a good talker, has the skills of a ball-player and certainly doesn't lack anything in the commitment department.
On top of that he also has plenty of experience at Origin level, having played four games for Queensland, so he won't be overawed.
Admittedly all of that experience has come at fullback but I think it can safely be argued that if `Locky' wasn't at the Broncos, `K' would be the five-eighth anyway.
As we look to extend our run of series wins to three, I am certain the Maroons will lose absolutely nothing with Hunt and Thurston running the show.


I HAVE to give a big congratulations to Jacob `Bull' Lillyman earning an Origin call-up.
Bull was just about convinced he was no chance of being selected after he was suspended for two games a couple of weeks back.
So after I found out on Monday night that we, along with `Charlie' (Carl Webb), were heading down to another Origin camp together I had to give our big back-rower a call.
Bull has played for Queensland a few times, but I swear after Cowboys football manager Dean Lance told him he was in he acted like it was going to be his debut.
He was over the moon.
And rightfully so, it's a great reward for him and a good show of loyalty by selectors after he has done the job for his State on more than a few occasions.
– JOHNATHAN THURSTON