North Queensland skipper Johnathon Thurston (pictured) is back in full training and looking forward to the 2017 NRL season.

Thurston had a late start to the pre season after once again enduring  a packed season of rep games alongside the NRLs fixtures.

The new season will be Thurstons 16th in the NRL and he says despite doing all he could to ensure he was in top shape when he reported for training, it doesn’t get any easier.