North Queensland

According to the Courier Mail, Thurston has returned to the club in a hands on role following conversations with coach Todd Payten.

Thurston has reportedly been working closely with North Queensland’s halves, mentoring the likes of Chad Townsend, Tom Dearden and Scott Drinkwater.

The Maroons great has been hired in a consultancy capacity and attends training once a week.

While the 31-year-old re-signed with the Cowboys three weeks ago, a chronic knee injury will cut short his career at 12 seasons.

“Ben’s contribution to this team over the past two seasons can never be undervalued,” Cowboys general manager Peter Parr said at the time of the re-signing.

“His experience from more than a decade playing professional rugby league at the highest level is something he has willingly passed on to our emerging forwards.”

The Cowboys confirmed on Friday Morgan had a partial tear in his posterior cruciate ligament after hurting his knee in Queensland's 26-16 Origin victory against NSW in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Morgan is expected to be sidelined for up to a month, with the club expecting him to return for their NRL round 20 clash against Canterbury on July 21.

The Cowboys have the bye the weekend before, meaning there is still a chance Morgan could be fit for the final Origin game in Sydney on July 13.

Johnathan Thurston, celebrating his 250th game after over a decade of service for North Queensland, has capped off another memorable Queensland derby with a 75th minute field goal to take his Cowboys to a 19-18 victory in front of a packed out 1300SMILES Stadium.

On the play prior to his field goal, Thurston was hit behind play by Broncos prop Josh McGuire and got up holding his right hip.

But in a moment that encapsulated his 15-year career, Thurston brushed off the hit and remained poised to snap the game-winner.