7th Tackle: Super celebration for JT

Provided he passes a late fitness test on his injured calf, Johnathan Thurston will play his 299th NRL game tomorrow night.

The 300-mark is a huge milestone for the game’s biggest draw card, given his early career struggles with off-field issues and, more recently, injury.

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Thurston would’ve loved nothing more than to mark the occasion in Townsville, but the Cowboys don’t play at home again until Round 13.

That means he’ll most probably join the elite club against his old club Canterbury at ANZ Stadium in a fortnight’s time – provided he comes through the Anzac Test unscathed.

Although the draw hasn’t done Thurston any favours, North Queensland officials are pushing as hard as they can to make the week a memorable one.

If they can finalise negotiations, expect the club to announce Thurston’s final one-year contract extension in the lead-up to the Bulldogs clash.