North Queensland captain makes a bid for local junior to join the side.
North Queensland star Johnathan Thurston said the Cowboys should throw their name in the ring as being interested in Ben Barba if he leaves the Bulldogs.
Speculation has swirled for weeks as to if Barba, who is contracted with Canterbury until the end of the 2015 season, will request a formal release from the club in a bid to go back to Queensland.
The Broncos have been at the front of the line when mentioned of possible new teams for Barba, however, Thurston said he would to have last year’s Dally M medal winner as a teammate.
If the Cowboys were able to lure Barba north he would prove the ideal replacement for veteran fullback Matty Bowen, who is tipped to be considering retirement at the end of the season.
“There’s a nice house up here in Townsville for him,” Thurston joked.
“It’s a good question for us. Whether Matty plays on next year or not, any club would love to have him (Barba) and we’re no different.
“We would love to see him up here, and it would be great to have him up here, but whether he comes is another question.
“Benny is a marquee player, but he has to make a decision based on his family and that’s what he will do.
“With contract negotiations, everything weighs on you when you aren’t on the paddock because they are the things you think about off the paddock.”
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