18 Jul 2015
Manly Daily
Peter Peters
JT will show why he is one of the greats
FANS ARE IN FOR A TREAT WHEN COWBOY RIDES ONTO BROOKIE
PENINSULA sports fans get the opportunity on Monday night to see a football genius in action at Brookvale Oval.
It’s not outlandish to suggest that North Queensland Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston is the greatest halfback to grace the grass at Brookvale in 69 years.
Thurston is now a member of the Magnificent Seven – the top halfbacks to have played the game in the televised era as voted by a panel of experts for the superb Men of League Foundation.
I have believed for some time now that the skinny number seven with the flashing smile and infectious laugh is the best halfback to have played the game in Australia.
For a long time now he has dominated games on a remarkably consistent level.
Few would argue he is the greatest player in the game ... and has been for some time.
He simply doesn’t have bad games.
If ever a player loved his job it is Thurston.
Because of his brilliance he is belted from pillar to post in most games but he simply gets up and continues to taunt the opposition with his skill and toughness.
The Magnificent Seven were chosen from a field of 14.
The final seven were Andrew Johns, Allan Langer, Steve Mortimer, Tom Raudonikis, Billy Smith, Peter Sterling and Thurston.
I have no problems with Johns, Langer, Mortimer and Thurston in the top seven.
For me the remaining three are fortunate to be included.
Raudonikis and Smith were tough scrappers but lacked the skill, speed and guile to be included in the cream of the crop halfbacks.
Sterling played in one of the game’s best ever backlines which included Brett Kenny, Steve Ella, Mick Cronin and Eric Grothe.
He is one of those players who gets better with the passing of time.
I would much prefer players who made the top 14 in Greg Alexander, Ricky Stuart and Stacey Jones to Raudonikis, Smith and Sterling, but that is the beauty of such a contest which brings strong, healthy debate and a mixture of opinions.
TOOVEY OVERLOOKED
STILL on the debate around the Magnificent Seven, where was Manly’s Geoff Toovey in the list of 14?
Surely Tooves was entitled to a start ahead of the likes of Queensland’s Barry Muir.
Muir was tough but has there been a tougher player than Toovey?
Muir played in an era when Queensland got lapped in every game and he was included as the token Queenslander in the Australian side.
Toovey excelled in premiership, Origin and internationals.
Other halfbacks unlucky not to get a look in we’re former Rooster Kevin Hastings and English international Tommy Bishop who was an amazing captain coach of the Cronulla Sharks.
And why no spot for amazing New Zealand Warriors halfback Shaun Johnston?
There are halfbacks in the 14 who wouldn’t lace Johnston’s boots up.
Indeed he could run around most of them twice before they worked out where he had gone.
INCREDIBLE MATCH-UP
SEE you at Brookie on Monday for a close-up look of Thurston up against Manly’s star number seven Daly Cherry-Evans.
It will be worth the price of admission – the Cowboys have only played six times at Brookvale so it is a rare opportunity to see the game’s best player on our home turf.
JT v DCE will be a compelling battle of the halves in a vital game for Geoff Toovey’s side!
