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'Embarrassing': Thurston home truth on Cowboys shocker
Joel Gould, AAP •  July 31st, 2026 2:18 pm
North Queensland players stood under the posts a lot during an 82-12 massacre by Sydney Roosters | Photo: PR Image
Johnathan Thurston has identified the major issue North Queensland must fix after they conceded 82 points, the most in a first-grade match in 91 years.
The 82-12 loss to Sydney Roosters in Townsville on Thursday night was the most points conceded by a team since Canterbury were beaten 87-7 by Eastern Suburbs in 1935.
The Cowboys were up physically and mentally the week before to beat Brisbane 18-10, but that desire and application went out the window.
"I didn't see that one coming from the performance last week," Channel Nine analyst Thurston said.
"The defensive efforts, while there was some intent there, you need to be smart and there was no smart footy about the Cowboys at all."
Thurston, the club's 2015 premiership hero and greatest ever player, is also on the football club board. He spoke with co-captain Reuben Cotter after the match, who shared his dire assessment of the display.
"There were fundamental errors defensively. It was tough to watch but like I said to Reuben it's on again next week for the boys and they have an opportunity to right the wrongs of what they dished up," Thurston said.
"He said it was embarrassing. It was embarrassing to watch and there is a lot of soul searching to do now in that dressing room.
"They missed the finals last year and this is a good opportunity to still make the eight, but how they claw themselves back from what they dished up, it's going to be a long week.
"It's a Queensland derby against the Titans so we will get a real good look at what this footy team is made of with how they bounce back next week. It was hard to watch."
Tommy Talau crosses for one of 14 tries the Roosters scored against the Cowboys | Photo: PR Image
The Cowboys are clinging to eighth position after the loss but have conceded 552 points this year. Only Wests Tigers are worse.
"The Achilles heel of this club has been our defence. Even when I was at the club, we struggled defensively and sometimes we would score more points than the other team," Thurston said.
"We'd be 30-nil down at halftime and win 36-30 or something ridiculous like that.
"You do have to score more points than the opposition, but in the big games (defence) wins you those close games. I'd be zoning in on the defence.
"The big, powerful forwards of the Roosters just kicked the front door in. We looked like it was boys against men out there."
Johnathan Thurston celebrates the 2015 premiership win with the Cowboys | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
Thurston was asked whether it was a performance that needed to be brushed as an aberration or dissected.
"I'm a little bit torn with that because when I had a loss, I'd be kicking stones for days," Thurston said.
"I would sit there and watch the whole game and pick it apart. Nearly 16,000 came to watch this team play, and they had to sit through it. I'd be making the group sit through it and having some real honest conversations.
"The season's still there to play finals footy. There's a little cherry there for the boys to go after over the next couple of weeks."
