{"id":834890,"date":"2026-07-31T04:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T04:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/834890\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T04:19:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T04:19:19","slug":"johnathan-thurston-emotional-as-north-queensland-concede-82-points-in-nrl-nightmare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/834890\/","title":{"rendered":"Johnathan Thurston emotional as North Queensland concede 82 points in NRL nightmare"},"content":{"rendered":"

NRL<\/a> great Johnathan Thurston has identified the major issue North Queensland<\/a> must fix after they conceded 82 points, the most in a first-grade match in 91 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys were up physically and mentally the week before to beat Brisbane 18-10, but that desire and application went out the window.\u201cI didn\u2019t see that one coming from the performance last week,\u201d Thurston said.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe defensive efforts, while there was some intent there, you need to be smart and there was no smart footy about the Cowboys at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thurston, the club\u2019s 2015 premiership hero and greatest ever player, is also on the football club board.<\/p>\n

\"ScottScott Drinkwater cuts a shattered figure after the loss to the Sydney Roosters. Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

He was covering the match live for Channel 9 and was clearly shattered as he spoke about his beloved Cowboys\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n

Fans also noticed that his \u201ceyes were glazed\u201d and that he looked like he was \u201cabout to cry\u201d on live TV.<\/p>\n

He spoke with co-captain Reuben Cotter after the match, who shared his dire assessment of the display.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were fundamental errors defensively. It was tough to watch but like I said to Reuben it\u2019s on again next week for the boys and they have an opportunity to right the wrongs of what they dished up,\u201d Thurston said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said it was embarrassing. It was embarrassing to watch and there is a lot of soul searching to do now in that dressing room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey 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\u2019s going to be a long week.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NorthNorth Queensland players stood under the posts a lot during an 82-12 massacre by Sydney Roosters. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

The Cowboys are clinging to eighth position after the loss but have conceded 552 points this year. Only Wests Tigers are worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Thurston said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d be 30-nil down at halftime and win 36-30 or something ridiculous like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do have to score more points than the opposition, but in the big games (defence) wins you those close games. I\u2019d be zoning in on the defence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe big, powerful forwards of the Roosters just kicked the front door in. We looked like it was boys against men out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thurston was asked whether it was a performance that needed to be brushed as an aberration or dissected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a little bit torn with that because when I had a loss, I\u2019d be kicking stones for days,\u201d Thurston said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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\u2019d be making the group sit through it and having some real honest conversations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe season\u2019s still there to play finals footy. There\u2019s a little cherry there for the boys to go after over the next couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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