Thurston keeping coy on his future

Kangaroos halfback Johnathan Thurston will make a decision on his long-term future
after next month's Four Nations tournament, but hasn't ruled out quitting North
Queensland.
The 26-year-old is off contract at the end of 2010 but said his next deal would be
the most important of his career.
"I am going to leave sorting my future out until all of my commitments are out of
the way. I don't want any distractions while I am away at camp," Thurston said at a
training session for the Prime Minister's XIII in Sydney.
Thurston, who will play against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby later this month
following the Cowboys' failure to reach the NRL finals, also admitted he was fearful
of losing his spot in the Kangaroos side.
"I am just going to wait until that is all over and if I am not in the team I will
sort it out earlier but fingers crossed I am," he said.
"When you don't play finals it is always in the back of your mind that someone may
get a jump on you, hopefully I am still there."
Despite a second successive season of the Cowboys not making the top eight, Thurston
said it wouldn't have any impact on his decision to stick in Townsville or look for
pastures new.
"I don't want to rush into it and make any rash decisions, I'll see what's available
and see what offers are where and find out what is best for me," he said.
"I know all the coaching staff and the players and the fact we never made the finals
was unlucky.
"We had opportunities to win games but we didn't take them."
The two-time Dally M Medal winner has also been linked with a switch to rugby and
refused to dismiss switching to the 15-man game, but admitted the lure of rep
football was a strong reason to stay in league.
"This will probably be my last big contract so I am not going to rush and I am not
ruling anything out," he said.
"But I love the whole concept of State of Origin and the concept of touring."