Thurston cleared to play in Centenary blockbuster

Nick Markham | Rugbyleaguelive.com | 09/05/08 | 0

Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston has made a rapid recovery from an ankle injury as is set to line up for Australian in tonight's Centenary Test against New Zealand at the SCG.
  
The Queensland Origin star passed a fitness test on the injured ankle this morning, with a team spokesman confirming Thurston had come through a searching test this morning in front of team medical staff.
  
"Unless it swells up dramatically this afternoon he should be right to take his place," the spokesman said.
  
Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk remains on standby for Thurston, who sustained the injury at training yesterday when he rolled his ankle during a routine drill during the Kangaroos final session,partially tearing ligaments.
  
Reports this morning from some media outlets suggested that Thurston was no chance of playing in the blockbuster clash, but test coach Ricky Stuart was determined to give his star up until an hour before kickoff to prove his fitness, and the gamble looks to have paid dividends.

The news comes as a major boost for the Kangaroos, who lost skipper and Thurston's halves partner Darren Lockyer on Sunday, after the Broncos star's ongoing knee problem flared up again.
  
Australia would have gone into tonight's Test without a full training session with Cronk at No.7 after he only arrived in camp last night.

Unless it swells up dramatically this afternoon he should be right to take his place Australian team spokesman