NRL news: North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston pranks Karl Stefanovic over fake news comeback
It's the line that would have sent the NRL into meltdown.
Hot on the heels of the news that Cowboys prop Matt Scott could make a shock comeback from a knee reconstruction for the preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters, Today show host Karl Stefanovic said Johnathan Thurston could follow suit if the Cowboys made the grand final.
Thurston has been out of action since undergoing a shoulder operation but has been regularly spotted in the coaching box and the Cowboys sheds during their charge through the NRL's finals series.
Johnathan Thurston has missed the Cowboys inspirational finals charge because of a shoulder injury. (AAP)
"Erin, I have got word from a couple of friends who live in far north Queensland, they're saying to me that JT maybe isn’t going to miss the grand final if North Queensland get through," Stefanovic told Today sports reader Erin Molan.
Molan added fuel to the fire when she said that she had seen a picture of Thurston running the other day and began wondering if he was a chance for a fairy tale finish to the season.
"I made the whole thing up," Stefanovic confessed.
Molan admitted she had been pranked good.
"I just nodded my head and went along with it," Molan said. "Quite an investigative journalist."
Stefanovic channelled his best Donald Trump and added: "Just to confirm, that was fake news."
Molan ended up having the last laugh after getting in touch with Thurston and putting the following clip to air.
"Hey Karlos, I heard you thought I'd be back for the grand final," Thurston said.
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