Johnathan Thurston has pinpointed North Queensland's defence as the major issue after the Cowboys suffered an 82-12 loss to the Sydney Roosters in Townsville on Thursday night.
The 82 points conceded were the most by a team in a first-grade match in 91 years, with Canterbury's 87-7 defeat to Eastern Suburbs in 1935 the last time a side leaked more.
Thurston devastated by defensive display
The Cowboys had beaten Brisbane 18-10 the previous week, but Thurston said the desire and application disappeared in Townsville. "I didn't see that one coming from the performance last week," he said.
"The defensive efforts, while there was some intent there, you need to be smart and there was no smart footy about the Cowboys at all."
Thurston, the club's 2015 premiership hero and greatest ever player, covered the match live for Channel 9. Fans noticed his "eyes were glazed" and he looked like he was "about to cry" as he spoke about the performance.
He spoke with co-captain Reuben Cotter after the match, who shared his dire assessment. "He said it was embarrassing. It was embarrassing to watch and there is a lot of soul searching to do now in that dressing room," Thurston said.
"There were fundamental errors defensively. It was tough to watch but like I said to Reuben it's on again next week for the boys and they have an opportunity to right the wrongs of what they dished up."
Defence the Achilles heel
The Cowboys are clinging to eighth position but have conceded 552 points this year, with only Wests Tigers worse. Thurston said defence has long been a problem for the club.
"The Achilles heel of this club has been our defence. Even when I was at the club, we struggled defensively and sometimes we would score more points than the other team," he said.
"We'd be 30-nil down at halftime and win 36-30 or something ridiculous like that. You do have to score more points than the opposition, but in the big games (defence) wins you those close games. I'd be zoning in on the defence."
The Roosters' powerful forwards proved decisive. "The big, powerful forwards of the Roosters just kicked the front door in. We looked like it was boys against men out there," Thurston said.
No easy answers ahead of Titans clash
Asked whether the performance should be treated as an aberration or dissected, Thurston said it needed honest examination. "I'm a little bit torn with that because when I had a loss, I'd be kicking stones for days," he said.
"I would sit there and watch the whole game and pick it apart. Nearly 16,000 came to watch this team play, and they had to sit through it. I'd be making the group sit through it and having some real honest conversations."
The Cowboys face the Gold Coast Titans in a Queensland derby next week. "The season's still there to play finals footy. There's a little cherry there for the boys to go after over the next couple of weeks," Thurston said.
