JOHNATHAN Thurston is poised to sign deal worth $1.25 million a season to stay at the North Queensland Cowboys.
It is believed to be the richest deal in rugby league history.
The Cowboys will today announce that Thurston will sign a new contract worth $5m over four seasons.
It is believed the final details of the contract were being finalised last night, News Limited newspapers report.
After guiding the Cowboys to a 24-12 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night, Thurston said he was looking forward to sorting out his future this week.
Thurston, 29, turned down lucrative offers from the Panthers and his old club the Bulldogs.
The star's decision to remain in Townsville will be a huge boost for the Cowboys.
The deal puts Thurston among the highest-paid players in Australia's football codes, behind soccer's Alessandro Del Piero, who is on $2m a season, and the AFL's Gary Ablett, who earns $1.3m a year.
It is understood that Phil Gould, Penrith's football manager, was told of the Kangaroos and Queensland Origin halfback's decision over the weekend.
Meanwhile, when it comes to NSW halfback post, Kurt Gidley is set to stake his claim on the jersey.
Gidley, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury that cost him his place in the Blues squad, will make his return at halfback for Newcastle when the Knights meet Wests Tigers at Hunter Stadium tonight.
"You can give the same old line that you will worry about rep footy when it comes to it," Gidley said.
"But look, if I am playing well enough, then of course I want to be part of the Blues again."
Asked whether he would like to be considered by NSW coach Laurie Daley as a halfback, Gidley, who has played much of his representative career off the interchange bench, said: "I think I will just see how things are going through the start of the year at the moment.
"Obviously my utility role has got me into a lot of the rep teams I have played in and that has been a real string in my bow - being able to play in a few positions.
"It all depends how I go with the Knights playing at halfback. That's up to me, I guess."
Provided he stays fit, Gidley is one of those players already pencilled in for NSW. Pearce is the incumbent halfback but Reynolds won their personal duel last Thursday night. Gidley shapes as a viable option, particularly after his injury gave him the chance to spend much of last season studying current and former halfbacks.
He also has the ongoing benefit of an outstanding relationship with the legendary Andrew Johns. Johns is now on the coaching staff at Manly but Gidley doesn't expect it to affect their relationship.
"I speak to him a fair bit, Joey," Gidley said. "He comes up to Newcastle every couple of weeks. If there is any advice he feels I need, he rings me up and lets me know." Gidley sees no change in the way he plays the game. His physical style has taken its toll in the form of injuries but it's in his DNA.
"I wouldn't be playing the game if I had to play to 70 per cent, or if I had to hold myself," Gidley said.
"That's not my make-up. I am either playing 100 miles an hour or I am not playing at all. That's one thing with all my injuries, I haven't come back too early and when I have come back I have felt confident in any surgery I have had.
"I am really confident in my shoulder now. I took a lot more confidence out of playing those two trial games and having no problems in that."
After the Knights won only four of their opening 13 games last season, Gidley has made a fast start a priority.
"I don't think the expectation is anywhere near what it was last year when Wayne (Bennett) arrived and we signed a couple of blokes," he said. "The expectation was huge from the media and the betting agencies and all of those. We want to get off to a lot better start than we did last year."
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