Thurston injury sends Origin decider markets into meltdown
QUEENSLAND and North Queensland have been rocked by the announcement that superstar playmaker Johnathan Thurston will miss the rest of the season after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.
Johnathan Thurston needs surgery. He is out for the season and will miss origin three. Huge blow for the cowboys and maroons
— pete badel (@badel_cmail) June 23, 2017
The Maroons, who were going into the Origin decider as short as $1.65 following their last-gasp game two win are now the $2 outsiders at Sportsbet.com.au to win game three at Suncorp Stadium.
Thurston said he knew his season may be done following the Maroon’s heart-stopping 18-16 win on Wednesday night.
“On Wednesday night I could still get through the game while the shoulder was pretty warm, and the next morning doing some tests I could lift my shoulder above my head and to the side, so they were encouraging signs,” Thurston said.
“I thought I might have been able to pump one or two more games out.”
The former Dally M Medallist said he needed to prioritise his family above league.
“But the medical advice I’ve been given is that if I wanted to live a normal life after football, then I had to have the surgery.”
The Johnathan Thurston season ending injury is the exact reason that @AFL State of Origin will never be again. Clubs won’t allow it.
— Cameron Luke (@camluke) June 23, 2017
It is a bitter blow for Thurston, who has now more than likely played his last representative game as a Queensland player.
Johnathan Thurston’s last play in a maroon jersey ? pic.twitter.com/54qNr0ZOkk
— Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) June 23, 2017
Even though Thurston has now finished his State of Origin career in last than ideal circumstances, the two-time premiership player remains “comfortable” in his decision to end his Queensland career.
Do not enjoy watching NSW get owned in Origin; still sad news about Johnathan Thurston :/
— Thoraiya Dyer (@ThoraiyaDyer) June 23, 2017
Thurston’s Cowboys have also drifted hugely in the betting markets.
Despite sitting just two wins away from a top-four berth and a genuine shot at winning two premierships in three years, North Queensland has sunk to the tenth line of betting at the $23 mark at Sportsbet.com.au.
The Cowboys were as short as $15 just two weeks ago.
The injury also potentially rules Thurston out of Australia’s World Cup campaign, meaning it is highly likely he has played his last representative game.
“I would love to [play in the World Cup] but I don’t think that’s a reality,” he said.
The team that has not suffered in the market as a result of the Thurston news is the national team, who remain the strong $1.35 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au to take out the Rugby League World Cup on home soil later in the year.
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