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North Queensland halfback Johnathan Thurston solidified his place at the top of the rugby league food chain while his team continued their love of Monday night footy following their big 30-12 win over the Rabbitohs.  

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Johnathan Thurston is the best player in the NRL

In a night where he became the second-most capped Cowboy – after bypassing club legend Aaron Payne's 219 matches – North Queensland co-captain Johnathan Thurston proved once again why he's the best player in the world. On track for an unprecedented fourth Dally M Medal (you heard it here first) the veteran playmaker showcased his worth for the third straight game with a starring two-try performance. 

Thurston remained modest though after the win and spread compliments to the rest of his team.

"I can't give our squad enough credit. Across the park they have been outstanding," Thurston said. 

"Our back five are taking some really tough carries and our boys in the middle third are rolling off the back of that. I can't do what I do without those boys doing their job and they have done it extremely well over the past three weeks."

Cowboys are all for manic Mondays

Unlike The Bangles in the '80s, North Queensland definitely are all for doing their thing on Mondays. Considering it's the only day of the week on which they have won so far this season, Mondays are quickly becoming the Cowboys' "fun day".  After winning their third-straight Monday fixture the Cowboys are on cloud nine heading into Round 7's clash with the Warriors, despite it being played on a *gulp* Saturday. 

On top of that, Cowboys coach Paul Green isn't getting too excited over beating the Rabbitohs considering the absence of South Sydney's injured star halfback.

"Adam Reynolds is the lynchpin in a lot of what they do," Green said. 

"We are really pleased though, they are the premiers for a reason and a tough team to beat so we'll get some confidence from it, but you also need to keep it in perspective too. We aren't getting carried away with ourselves."

South Sydney is doing it tough

Bulldogs fans will still tell you they should have won on Good Friday and considering it was the Rabbitohs' only win in the past three weeks, another L next to their names wouldn't have looked out of place. While they are definitely down on troops the Rabbitohs' problems according to coach Michael Maguire currently are their "uncharacteristic efforts". It's a period similar to the early stages of the 2014 season where they lost to the Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and Raiders over a three-week period between Rounds 2-4.  

Considering how last year panned out for those in the cardinal and myrtle, there isn't a great concern for the reigning premiers just yet.  The same cannot be said if their key casualties continue.

Rabbitohs' makeshift halves not to blame for loss

It wasn't the makeshift halves partnership of Glenn Stewart and Luke Keary or the absence of usual halfback Adam Reynolds which were to blame for South Sydney's loss, according to captain Greg Inglis.

"They are just excuses," he said. "We have plenty of players there who we have high confidence in and belief in that can do the job. They did their job in the first half and we didn't have the ball or possession to allow things to go our way in the second half."

The Broncos are outright leaders of the competition

Who would've thought the Brisbane Broncos would be outright competition leaders after six rounds – let alone following their abysmal start to the season against the Rabbitohs? After the Rabbitohs fell to their second loss of the season against the Cowboys, the Broncos became the last squad in the NRL with just one loss to their name having remained unbeaten since their 36-6 loss to South Sydney in the season-opener.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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