League: Thurston unlikely to play against Kiwis

Johnathan Thurston will not be on the All Golds league tour and looks extremely unlikely to play for Australia against the Kiwis in Wellington next month.

Thurston requires reconstructions to both shoulders and his Cowboys club wants that to happen after their NRL season finishes.

The Dally M award winner was a candidate for replicating the role of Dally Messenger on the Kiwis tour to England and appearing in the commemorative game against a Northern Selection next month.

But the NZRL has been told he will not be released.

The league still wants to add an Aussie, as was the case in 1908 with Messenger, but after approaching then losing others including Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer due to injury it will now await the end of the NRL and some certainty.