Carney to threaten Thurston: Smith
North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston has been spruiked as the player to dominate rugby league for the next decade - but a challenger to the lofty title has already surfaced.
Cowboys pivot Jason Smith believes his former Canberra apprentice Todd Carney presents the greatest threat to Thurston's top billing in the coming years.
When Andrew Johns retired, the Newcastle halfback immediately ordained Thurston as the man to fill his shoes as the game's best player as Darren Lockyer's career winds down.
Smith is the first to back Johns' call but reckoned five-eighth Carney would soon be among the game's elite.
"There are probably two or three players in that (elite) category but there's a few not that far behind," Smith said.
"I believe JT (Thurston) is (the best player) at the moment but Darren Lockyer can turn a game on its head.
"And I believe Todd is a similar type of player. I believe he can dominate the game in a couple of years with a bit more experience."
Cowboys pivot Smith was texting furiously on Monday night, congratulating his former Canberra teammates after Carney helped hold out a desperate Sydney Roosters in their 37-28 NRL win.
Smith was convinced not only Carney but a number of Raiders would soon don the green and gold.
"I believe Carney, their frontrowers Michael Weyman and Dane Tilse and the fullback William Zillman will definitely be playing for Australia in four or so years," Smith said.
"They are exceptional players."
Smith spent the last two seasons at Canberra grooming Carney who, at 20 years old, has the rugby league world at his feet judging by his command performance against the Roosters.
"I've got a lot of time for Todd. He was asking me a lot of questions (at Canberra)," Smith said.
"Todd is his own player and he was always going to be a good player no matter what I said to him.
"But watching him against the Roosters it was good to see someone I have been involved in play as good as he did."
