Johnathan Thurston – A Tribute To A Future Immortal

The great Johnathan Thurston has retired from Rugby League.

Thurston started his first-grade career at the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2002. He came off the bench as a utility for the then half-back Brent Sherwin. Success came early for 19-year-old Thurston as in 2004, he was a part of the Bulldogs winning their first premiership since 1995.

The Bulldogs let Thurston look elsewhere as they decided to re-sign Sherwin on an extended deal. Thurston joined the North Queensland Cowboys in 2005 joining the likes of Paul Bowman, Matt Bowen and Matt Sing.

That year, the Cowboys made it to the grand final where they faced the Wests Tigers. The Cowboys fell short 30-16 with the Wests combination of the Magical Benji Marshall and Scott Prince proved to be the difference on that night. Thurston was the starting five-eighth and in that year he won his first Dally M award.

It took a decade for the Cowboys to be in the grand final once again. It was 2015, it was a game that was described as one of the best grand finals in history.  Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos. Two Queensland teams playing a Grand Final for the first time in Sydney territory. The crowd was a sell-out.

The game had everything, spills, thrills and skills. The Broncos were in control for the majority of the game and were set to claim their seventh premiership. Until Thurston turned the game on its head in a matter of minutes. There were two minutes to go, Brisbane was in-front by 4, Thurston saw Michael Morgan had space, he shifted it quickly, Morgan went down-field, saw Kyle Feldt and Feldt scored in the corner to level the game. The hooter had sounded. It was all up Thurston to kick from the sideline to win the Grand Final and to avoid golden point.

Thurston took his headgear off, took as much time as could. He struck it sweetly, a certain to go over but it hit the paint of the uprights. The whole crowd were incredibly loud. Then the kick-off in extra-time. Brisbane to receive the ball. Ben Hunt is under it, he drops it cold and drops to his knees. From the scrum, Thurston was ready to take the field goal and he took the glory away from Brisbane in seconds to secure the first ever premiership for the Cowboys.

Thurston had his injuries following the grand final victory and saw himself out of action for most of the 2016 season. Critics said he should retire right there and then but he returned in 2017 helping the Cowboys reach another Grand Final. However, Thurston did not play as his lingering shoulder injury occurred in the middle of the season. The Cowboys went on to face the Storm but they were beaten convincingly.

Following that, critics thought surely, Thurston will retire now, but no he played the 2018 season. The Cowboys finished 13th but coach Paul Green believes there is life and a bright future for the Cowboys after Thurston’s departure.

QLD Dynasty

Thurston, Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis were an instrumental part of the Queensland Maroons winning seven consecutive Origin series from 2006-2012. NSW just could not contain the superiority of those players. Each of those players mentioned won the series for QLD by themselves on occasion and will forever go down in history in Rugby League folklore.

Accomplishments

JT has he is eloquently known leaves an astonishing resume. He holds the record for most Dally M awards (4) eclipsing Andrew Johns, He played 323 NRL games, 38 Tests for Australia, 37 Origin matches for Queensland and racked up 2222 career points.  He has been selected in each of the six Indigenous All Stars matches, was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century, has won five State of Origin man-of-the-match awards, was the Wally Lewis Medal winner for State of Origin player of the series in 2008; and the 2011, 2013 and 2015 Golden Boot winner for world rugby league player of the year.