Round 25: Titans v Cowboys preview
End of the Road - JT bids farewell to rugby league
In most cases the prospect of a final round contest between two out of contention teams would garner a passing glance at best beyond the most ardent of supporters. Yet given the spectacle of Saturday's match serving as the final appearance for NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, the match-up between the Titans and Cowboys look set to capture headlines throughout the league with the largest attendance expected to be on hand at Robina since Jarryd Hayne's return to rugby league two years ago. After starting the year with a win at home back in March, the Gold Coast Titans will be hoping for a similar result under vastly different circumstances. Unable to finish ahead of the reigning premiers in a tightly fought contest last Saturday, Titans coach Garth Brennan has retained the same 17 players as last week with playmaker Kane Elgey set to play his final match for the club before joining Manly in the off-season. Coming into the Round 25 fixture in 13th position, a win could see the out-of-sight club finish as high as 11th, while in the worst case scenario their final standing is set to remain just above the wooden spoon for the second consecutive season.
There are two very differing perspectives to be taken on Saturday night for the North Queensland Cowboys. In the context of recent history, 2018 can be viewed as one of the steepest declines by a great team seen in the NRL era. Falling short of Melbourne in last year's grand final having claimed a title two years prior, the drop in quality seen with a similar roster should leave coach Paul Green with serious concerns in need of address heading towards to 2019. Yet in spite of the many failing endured this season, the Cowboys are set to take a different approach in recognition of Johnathan Thurston's illustrious career. Full of motivation to send off the NRL legend with a win, the wave of emotional support is set to be behind the Cowboys in full force, with only Gold Coast die-hards likely to begrudge Thurston a win in his final appearance. Making minimal changes from the side that demolished Parramatta 44-6 last Friday, Te Maire Martin has been preferred ahead of Jake Clifford in the halves, while off-contract forward Shaun Fensom will play off the bench in what could be his final appearance for the club.
Last meeting: Round 7 2018 - Cowboys 26 Titans 14
Who to watch: In a match focussed squarely on one man, the likely prospect of a different milestone looks set to be overlooked by many pundits. Currently tied alongside David Mead on 67 tries for the club, Anthony Don is set to become the outright leading try scorer for the Titans should he cross the white line at some stage on Saturday. Serving as testament for all players to remain persistent in pursuit of a debut later in the average life span of a first grade footballer, the 30-year-old winger has enjoyed his most prolific season to date with 15 four-pointers, earning a contract extension for his efforts in the process. Having scored against all teams bar the Cowboys since debuting early in 2013, the chance to steal the limelight should see Don make a concerted effort to find the try line in front of the expected capacity crowd.
After 17 seasons as a professional footballer that have encompassed 38 tests for Australia, 37 appearances for Queensland, premierships with Canterbury and North Queensland, a record four Dally M medals, captaining the Indigenous All Stars and a swath of additional accolades, Johnathan Thurston will play his 323rd and final game on Saturday evening. Regarded to be arguably the greatest player of all time, the 35-year-old halfback may not have enjoyed a farewell befitting his reputation in the finals, but having shown considerable resilience to bounce back from a potentially career-ending shoulder injury twelve months ago, there can be no questioning his place as an icon of the game. Producing countless match-winning plays since debuting as a teenager back in 2002, look for JT to make the most of his final 80 minutes in first grade.
The favourite: After demolishing the Eels last Friday in Townsville, the Cowboys are expected to prove too strong for the Titans in a high-scoring affair.
My tip: While North Queensland's end-of-season review should reveal a number of difficult truths for the Cowboys to contend with heading into life after JT, the spectacle of Saturday night should see one of rugby league's greatest players finish up a winner. Cowboys by 20.
