Toyota Cowboys hooker/halfback Ray Thompson has endured plenty of frustration in season 2014.
Not only is he disappointed, like the rest of his teammates, that they have a 7-9 win-loss record entering the final two months of the home and away rounds, he’s had to deal with a season hampered by injury.
After playing 62 NRL matches in his last three campaigns, he’s been restricted to 12 so far in 2014, although he gets the chance to add to that record now that he's back from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of North Queensland’s last two games.
He also missed two weeks of footy in rounds nine and 10 after damaging knee medial ligaments in the big home win against Parramatta.
“Every time I try to get some form and start to get a bit of confidence something has come along to hinder me,” Thompson said.
“Frustration’s the word. Hopefully I can put that behind me and focus really hard on the last couple of months of the season.
“It’s good to be back and out there training with the boys. I’m looking forward to the game on the weekend.”
Thompson, who trained hard over the bye week to ensure he would be right to return for round 19, will come off the bench against Cronulla on Friday night as the Cowboys’ back-up hooker, although there’s always the option of putting him into the halves if required.
He said the NQ club had moved on from their controversial finals exit against the Sharks last year and that it would not be a factor in the build-up to face Cronulla for the first time in 2014.
The Cowboys’ game three State of Origin duo Johnathan Thurston and James Tamou returned to training this morning for the first time this week.
