Thurston left fuming
ANTONY STEWART | May 12th, 2012
A FRUSTRATED Johnathan Thurston is worried how badly someone has to get hurt before the NRL gets tough.
The Queensland and Australia halfback was left furious after St George Illawarra Dragon Matt Prior's seemingly lenient five-week suspension for a shocking elbow to the head that left Thurston unconscious. Cowboy Thurston said he held no ill-feeling towards Prior, adding he accepted his apology via phone on Monday.
But it did not alleviate Thurston's fear that the "light" suspension dished out by the NRL judiciary had set a poor precedent.
"He's led with the forearm and got me with his elbow," the 21-time Maroon and 22-time Test representative said.
"Fair enough he's got a clean record but I don't think five weeks justifies what he's done.
"It's like they've set a precedent now with it.
"If I had of broken my jaw, would he have got 10 weeks? If I had have broken my cheekbone and been out for six to eight weeks what would his penalty have been then? And that's what they seem to be basing the penalty on.
"That's pretty disappointing from the panel."
Further infuriating world-class five-eighth Thurston was, on the same night as Prior's suspension, seeing Cowboys teammate James Segeyaro fail in his bid to have a careless high tackle charge downgraded.
The in-form hooker, nicknamed "Chicko", will miss tonight's clash with the Knights in Newcastle.
"Can you tell me, with what Chicko did and what Matt Prior did, there's four weeks difference in the suspension," Thurston said. "With Chicko there's no swinging arm, nothing.
"(Prior) led with the elbow and there's just a four-week difference of suspensions. You would think leading with your elbow and knocking someone out, the difference would be a lot more."
And don't even get him started on how Cronulla and New South Wales Blues' inspiration Paul Gallen escaped punishment for kneeing South Sydney and Queensland back-rower Dave Taylor in the head. Initially slapped with a dangerous contact charge, Gallen was freed to play this weekend.
"He was never getting suspended," Thurston said with a laugh as he implied another Blues judiciary conspiracy.
But Thurston, who is constantly fighting a losing an on-field battle of being fair game for late tackles, said he would not let the incident stop him from playing his normal, match-winning game.
A game out from Origin, he said he would not wrap himself in cotton wool tonight.
"My main focus is doing what's best for the team and that's turning up on the night and doing my job," the 29-year-old said.
"I think if you go in with that softer mentality, that's when you do get injured."
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2012/05/12/329301_sport.html
