'Future of the club': JT's huge praise for Cowboys debutant

Johnathan Thurston has heaped praise on NRL debutant Jake Clifford after the 20-year-old was thrown into the fire against the Dragons on Saturday night.

Clifford, a Cairns local, is poised to take over as the club’s halfback when Thurston bows out at the end of the season.

The 20-year-old got his first taste of first-grade action in a 14-point defeat to St George Illawarra in Townsville, playing the entire 80 minutes.

The debut alongside Thurston came 12 years after Clifford, then wearing a Tully Tigers top, sat on his new teammate’s lap for a photo in the sheds.

Clifford’s most notable impacts came by foot, and Thurston lauded his new teammate for stepping up without going into his shell.

“He’s calling the shots there. Had a couple of runs, got some shape outside him. He’s still plying his trade, he’s still young,” the veteran playmaker told reporters.

“He’s certainly got a big future ahead of him. He’s had a really good season at Intrust Supercup level and was really good in the under-20s for the Maroons, so no doubt he’s the future of the club.”

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Cowboys coach Paul Green conceded Clifford was given the full game because of the team’s dire position as the 2018 season comes to a close.

Green, however, said the minutes weren’t handed to him – he even wanted the youngster to contribute more.

“(He was) in the furnace a little bit, hopefully we’ll get the benefit of that down the track,” the coach said.

“His debut was good. I probably would’ve liked to see him get a bit more involved, to be honest. He’s got a good kicking game, we saw parts of it tonight.

“As he grows in confidence he’ll get himself in the game a bit more too.”

Green said Clifford was handed immediate responsibility in part to shake the Dragons’ bid to target Thurston.

Whether he remains in the side for a second game this Friday night against Newcastle is not yet clear.

But one thing’s for sure: whenever he lines up alongside Thurston, the Cowboys don’t want him worrying about the idol hanging over his shoulder.

“That’s up to him, he’s got to get his big boy voice out and get the ball,” Green said.