'Shouldn't have a job': Rival burns Thurston over six-year grudge
Former Parramatta Eels player and assistant coach Nathan Hindmarsh has been waiting years for this sledge.
The colourful NRL character has been lying in wait since 2015 to get Johnathan Thurston back after the former Cowboys and Queensland star took aim at his coaching abilities after a North Queensland thumping.
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Thurston, then at the peak of his playing powers, appeared on Fox League after a 46-6 victory over Parramatta in Townsville when Hindmarsh was an assistant coach for the Eels.
Clearly amused with himself, Thurston joked it had been a 'tough one' before turning his attention to Hindmarsh.
“Hindy, are you part of their coaching staff? You shouldn’t have a job next year," he said.
That comment was filed away in Hindmarsh's memory banks, and Queensland's recent State of Origin drubbing at the hands of NSW has brought it back to light.
Thurston has since retired from the NRL and was an assistant coach for Queensland during this year's ill-fated Origin series.
With that in mind, Hindmarsh lined up his old rival on Fox League's The Late Show with Matty Johns on Thursday night.
“He’s into me about score lines and being on the coaching staff of the Eels back then,” Hindmarsh said.
“Johnathan, I’ve just watched two games of State of Origin where you’re on the coaching staff yourself, are you not?
“I think you’ll be out of a job. You’ve let (Green) down, you’ve let your state down, and honestly you should have a long hard look at yourself and pretty much hand that blazer in, because you don’t deserve to be on that coaching staff.
“Attack or defence, they were both pretty s**t.
“So Johnathan, get out there and look for another job mate, because you’re no good at Origin coaching.”
Hasler backs Cherry-Evans to bounce back after Origin hiding
Manly coach Des Hasler says Queensland's problems stem deeper than their halfback, defending captain Daly Cherry-Evans from "cash for comment" criticism after another State of Origin hiding.
The Sea Eagles captain will welcome an NRL return for the side against Canterbury on Saturday as they incredibly chase a third consecutive 50-plus score.
Cherry-Evans was shattered after Queensland's 26-0 loss at Suncorp Stadium, admitting post-game the Blues appeared more motivated than them to win the series.
Those comments raised the eyebrows of former Maroons half Cooper Cronk and led to a steady stream of criticism this week of the halfback's game and leadership.
Hasler has no time for it though, saying Queensland's injuries woes had exposed a terminal lack of depth.
"Queensland need their best players on the field (to compete)," he said.
"It's sometimes cash for comment there and Cherry came into Origin probably in the top two halfbacks in the competition.
"He was quite emotional and felt it hard to have a loss, but he'll take it on board and respond how he does.
"It won't matter much in the world in which Cherry plays his football."
Tom Trbojevic will also back-up after another dominant effort for NSW.
"They're rugby league players; they love playing footy," Hasler said of Cherry-Evans and Trbojevic.
"It (his sparkling form) has come as no surprise ... he's certainly up there at the forefront, has that entire package, has it all really."
With AAP
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