Johnathan Thurston delays comeback after surgery
JOHNATHAN Thurston will miss the first month of the 2008 NRL season, with the Cowboys sensation pledging to take no risks in his return from two bouts of shoulder surgery.
Back in pre-season training, Thurston detailed the depths of his injury struggles, admitting he won last year's Dally M Medal despite a shoulder problem he carried for six months.
Such was the extent of damage, Thurston revealed doctors broke surgical tools attempting to fix his battered shoulders.
The 24-year-old is eyeing a comeback against St George Illawarra in Round 5, giving him just three weeks to impress Test selectors ahead of Australia's showdown against New Zealand on May 9.
But the man touted as Australia's long-term playmaking successor to Andrew Johns promised a no-rush approach in his bid to reclaim his Queensland and Kangaroos jumpers in a World Cup year.
"I want my shoulders to be 100 per cent right before I even consider coming back. I never want to go through anything like this again," said Thurston, who missed Australia's 58-0 thumping of New Zealand in October due to surgery, allowing Melbourne's Cooper Cronk to clinch the green and gold No.7 jumper.
"The Test jumper is so far away at the moment. I hold that jumper close to my heart and I'd love it back, but I can't afford to risk anything by coming back too early.
"The doctor says my recovery is five-and-a-half months, and Round 3 is the five-month mark. Next year is a really big year with the World Cup so hopefully I'll be playing well before the Origin series and that will give me every chance of being in the Test and Origin squads."
The North Queensland skipper admits he still can't believe he surged to Dally M glory given the weekly pain he was forced to endure.
Thurston first damaged his right shoulder in Round 4. By mid-season, just after Queensland's Origin I clash in May, both shoulders were shot.
By finals time, the Maroons maestro was struggling to lift his arm or pass the ball.
"My shoulders were in really bad shape. The surgeon said he had no idea how I finished the season. He said my shoulders were so bad they actually broke tools trying to fix them.
"Towards the finals it was torture. I couldn't put my arms above my shoulders, I couldn't lift weights and my shoulders would hurt for two or three days after a game. I was very surprised to win the Dally M Medal with the pain I went through."
Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr was amazed by Thurston's ability to dominate end-of-season matches under duress.
"There are a lot of words people use to describe Johnathan but the first one I think of is 'tough'," Parr said.
"He showed enormous courage to battle on. Not a lot of guys could have coped with the pain he was feeling."
Thurston said his shoulders felt "brand new" and has sought the advice of Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall, who has undergone six shoulder operations in five seasons.
"I was pretty nervous about it, it was my first major surgery so a lot of doubts were running through my mind.
"I've spoken to Benji about the operation and he told me I'd be crazy to rush it. Hopefully, I can play well for the Cowboys when I get back and put myself in contention for the (representative) stuff."
