QUEENSLAND’S Johnathan Thurston left coaching staff and fans alike with their hearts in their mouths after the champion went down with injury at training on Sunday.

Thurston missed NSW’s dominant game one victory with a shoulder complaint which ended a record run of 36 consecutive appearances for Queensland.

To lose him in game two would be a disaster for Maroons coach Kevin Walters.

And those thoughts must’ve been running through the under-pressure mentor’s mind when Thurston went to ground after colliding with a Souths Logan player during an opposed session at Sanctuary Cove Resort on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

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Johnathan Thurston has an injury scare during a Queensland Maroons training session. Source: Getty Images

While it was a shoulder injury which stopped him in game one, Sunday’s complaint was with his knee — and it appeared to be serious.

The concern was obvious as staff members rushed to Thurston’s aid to assist him from the field.

But the brilliant playmaker was able to push them aside and complete the session.

Thurston’s presence will be vital for the Maroons, who made seven changes from their game one shellacking and will be gunning for victory in game two at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday to maintain their decade-long dominance — having won 10 of the past 11 series.