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Thurston may miss Origin opener

Thurston may miss Origin opener

New South Wales have been given an early boost ahead of this year’s State of Origin series with news Johnathan Thurston may be forced to miss game one for the birth of his first child.

It has been revealed that the Maroons five-eighth and partner Samantha Lynch are expecting a June 5 arrival – the same night as the Origin opener.

Lynch says she would fully support her fiancé if he decides to play on the night, but Thurston is determined not to miss the birth and says he will withdraw from Origin I if the arrival was imminent.

“She’s a proud Queenslander and she doesn’t want me to miss the game,” Thurston said. “But I’m not too sure whether I want to miss the birth of my first child.”

“Not many babies actually do come on the due date, they’re a few days before or a few days after so we’ll see.”

Thurston recalled the moment he and Samantha learned of the potential clash.

“It wasn’t until we got back to the club and looked at the schedule that we realized it was smack bang in the middle of Origin,” he said. “We couldn’t actually believe it.”

With the Blues staring down the barrel of an eighth consecutive series defeat, the loss of Thurston would certainly be a huge mental boost.