Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston has delivered an emotional plea to his former NRL side after watching Sam Walker and the Roosters dismantle them at home. Walker responded to noise around his next contract talks with a stellar performance on the field having scored 36 individual points in the 82-12 points thrashing.
No team has had more points put on them in 91 years with Cowboys coach Todd Payten left shellshocked after the defeat. No team has ever conceded 50 points and gone on to win the NRL premiership and fans are ruling out the Cowboys after the thrashing in front of their home crowd.
And Cowboys legend Thurston was left stunned after the game. Speaking on Channel Nine following the defeat, Thurston appeared lost for words at times when trying to explain what went wrong with a side who just beat the Broncos and Manly.
Johnathan Thurston (pictured left) was left stunned having called out the Cowboys’ defence in the 82-12 thrashing at the hands of the Roosters. (Images: Channel Nine/Getty Images)
Thurston said it was a tough watch on Thursday night and the defensive efforts were just not there against a powerful Roosters side. “The Achilles heel of this club has been our defence. Even when I was at the club, we struggled defensively,” Thurston said.
“In the big games, there the things that win you those close games. I would be zoning in on the defence. The coach wanted them to be physical, they were physical last week, but on the five day turnaround that physicality was nowhere near where it needed to be. It needed to be smart physicality…
“The big powerful forwards of the Roosters just kicked the front door in and we couldn’t arrest that momentum. We just looked like it was boys against men out there. It was tough to watch. I don’t know what else to say.”
NRL fans all say the same thing about the Cowboys
Thurston wasn’t the only one in shock. Walker put up an incredible effort and blitzed the Cowboys in attack. Fans also quickly ruled the Cowboys out of making a late NRL premiership push with the side now battling to make the Top 8 after the humiliating defeat.
Braith Anasta praises Roosters title credentials
Both James Tedesco and Walker crossed for tries with the halfback scoring the equal most points by an individual in an opening 40 minutes. And Roosters coach Trent Robinson was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We have been playing good footy and winning games … but we have been hungry to play a little bit more Roosters style and for a little bit longer, and we got that tonight,” Roosters coach Robinson said. “You don’t get 80 points unless you defend the other side really well, so the mindset to keep it to 12 was very good.”
Former Roosters star Braith Anasta was quick to label the club as premiership contenders after flexing their muscles in Townsville. “I’ve always thought the Roosters were a chance of winning the competition and they have been travelling pretty good, without being great, sitting in second…wondering if they deserve to be there, but after last night they certainly do. They’ve flexed their muscles now and my opinion has changed,” he said on Triple M Radio on Friday morning.
Reuben Cotter and the Cowboys were hammered 82-12 at home to the Roosters. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)