Johnathan Thurston

Johnathan Thurston

Thurston in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Jontan Turston
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	82 kg (13 st)
Playing information
Position	Halfback, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2002–04 Bulldogs 29 10 12 0 46 2005– North Queensland 105 38 265 2 684 Total 134 48 277 2 730 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005– Queensland 15 2 32 2 74 2006– Australia 17 5 50 0 150

Jontan Turston (born 25 April 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer and current captain of the North Queensland Cowboys of the NRL. A two-time Dally M Medal, three-time State of Origin Man of the Match, and Wally Lewis medallist, he has also represented Queensland and Australia, and by some considered the "Greatest Origin Half-Back" of all time.

A goal-kicking halfback, Thurston started his career at the Bulldogs with whom he won the 2004 NRL premiership before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys in 2005.

Before the NRL

Of Indigenous Australian and New Zealand descent, Johnathan Thurston was born in Brisbane and began playing rugby league at a very young age for Souths Sunnybank Junior Rugby League Football Club in Brisbane's southside. Later during his youth he moved to Toowoomba where he attended St. Mary's College, playing rugby league for his school and the All Whites Toowoomba Rugby League Club. Although a stand-out player at school and club level at 18 years of age, none of the National Rugby League clubs were willing to sign the Queenslander. According to Thurston's manager Sam Ayoub, a number of the clubs were not even willing to take him for free. Only St George Illawarra Dragons coach Nathan Brown was willing to sign him but because he was going to play for nothing his manager negotiated with the Bulldogs to sign him as he had promised Thurston's mother he would keep an eye on him, and Belmore (the Bulldogs' home ground) was closer to where he lived. The Bulldogs agreed and signed Thurston in the 2001 season for 'nil playing fee'. Once Thurston had the opportunity he went beyond all expectations and was selected for the Queensland U-19 side in 2001.

Bulldogs

The following year Thurston's dream became a reality as made his debut in the National Rugby League during Round 13 of the 2002 season, coming off the bench for the Bulldogs against the Penrith Panthers. As a specialist in the halves Thurston was stuck in the shadow of star Bulldogs halves pairing Brent Sherwin and Braith Anasta and many of his critics still believed he was still too small in stature to be competitive in the NRL. Although Thurston never cemented a starting position and only took part in 29 matches through-out three seasons at the Bulldogs, in his final year in 2004, he was part of the Premiership-winning side coming off the bench in the Bulldogs 16 – 13 win over the Sydney Roosters. Towards the end of the season it was announced 2004 would be his final year for the Sydney club as he was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2005 NRL season.

North Queensland Cowboys

Thurston's return to Queensland proved to be a turning point in his career, he instantly became the starting halfback for the Cowboys, and his consistency earned him his first Queensland State of Origin jersey. In his first match he was voted Player's Player after being in the top 4 tacklers and kicking an amazing field goal to force the game into extra time. At a club level Thurston played an integral part in guiding North Queensland to the 2005 Grand Final, the first Grand Final appearance for the club. Unfortunately for Thurston, they lost 30–16 to the Wests Tigers, ending Thurston's chance of winning two consecutive Grand Finals. His disappointment would not last for too long as he was awarded the Halfback of the Year award and the prestigious Dally M Medal for 2005's Player of the Year.

In 2006 Thurston was instrumental in Queensland's State of Origin Series win as the Maroons recovered from defeat in the first game to take the 2006 series 2–1. Thurston recovered from a dislocated knee at the end of the regular NRL season to make the Australian squad for the 2006 Tri-Nations tournament. He was chosen to play halfback for the first and second games against New Zealand where he played excellent football and was rewarded 'Man of Match' honours for the first game. Despite losing the jumper to Ben Hornby for the first game against Great Britain he returned for the 2nd game against Great Britain and kept his place for the final. In this match, with the scores locked at 12–12 and the game into its 2nd half of golden point extra time, a trade-mark Thurston break allowed him to set Darren Lockyer up for the series-winning try for The Kangaroos finishing his year on a high note.

As Thurston entered his third year with the Cowboys in 2007, he was appointed the responsibility of Captain of the team following the retirement of Travis Norton. He was named 'Man of the Match' for his performance in Queensland's victory in Game One of the 2007 State of Origin series. He lead well as captain for the Cowboys and the team improved dramatically from the previous year to finish a strong third place on the ladder by the end of the regular season. Unfortunately they fell one game short of the club's second Grand Final appearance losing to the second-placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in what was otherwise a successful year. Individually, Thurston was brilliant yet again, and in September he won the Halfback of the Year and the Dally M Medal Player of the Year Award for the second time in three years, narrowly edging out Wests Tigers' Robbie Farah due to his strong performances in the final rounds of the regular season.

Thurston training for Queensland in 2009

At the conclusion of the season it was reported Thurston would require major shoulder surgery due to ongoing physical damage to his ligaments. He underwent two shoulder reconstructions. He was supposed to make a return for the Cowboys in Round 5 of the 2008 season following his off-season surgery, but made a surprise return in Round 1. In the deciding match against New South Wales in 2008, Thurston set up a try for Billy Slater which would ultimately win the game. Thurston was also named the Wally Lewis Player of the Series.

Thurston would not replicate the previous year's successes in 2008, as the Cowboys seemed to lose all of their exciting spark that saw them renovate the club's reputation in recent years. Three wins at the start of the year held promise, but after a record-breaking 15-match losing streak, all hope faded.

In August 2008, Thurston was named in the Australia training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, and in October 2008 he was confirmed in the final 24-man Australia squad. In Australia's first match of the tournament, Thurston, despite mourning the murder of his uncle in a Brisbane park less than 38 hours prior, put in a strong performance to be named man-of-the-match in the Kangaroos win over the Kiwis.

He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand on 8 May 2009.

In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the 2009 State of Origin series' opening match, and was subsequently picked at halfback for the opening State of Origin match on 3 June. He went on to play in game two, which Queensland won, making history as the first side to win four consecutive series. He played in the third match as well, which Queensland lost.

After the Cowboys' NRL season had ended, Thurston kicked seven goals from as many attempts as the Prime Minister’s team defeated Papua New Guinea 42–18 in Port Moresby.

In the 2010 pre-season, Thurston was named man-of-the-match for his performance in the inaugural NRL All Stars game awards. A shoulder injury early in the season put him on the sideline for the 2010 ANZAC Test. However he returned weeks later to be named man-of-the-match in Queensland's victory in Game I of the 2010 State of Origin series giving him a total of three Origin man-of-the-match. During the match with Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, he was found guilty of swearing at the referee 8 times for the complain that it wasn't a forward pass in which Manly won 24-20.

Achievements and accolades

Individual

2005: North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year
2005: Dally M Player of the Year
2005: Dally M Halfback of the Year
2007: Dally M Player of the Year
2007: Dally M Halfback of the Year
2008: Wally Lewis Medal for State of Origin player of the series

In August, 2008, Thurston was named at half-back in the Indigenous Team of the Century.

Team

2004: NRL Grand Final – Canterbury Bulldogs – Winners
2005: NRL Grand Final – North Queensland Cowboys – Runners-Up

Records

2008: State of Origin Most Goals In Origin Match (7) – Game 2 June 11 (tied with Mal Meninga).

Season-by-Season

Season	Team	Appearance	Interchange	Tries	Goals	F/G	Points
2002	Bulldogs	3	4	2	–	–	8
2003	Bulldogs	9	6	4	–	–	16
2004	Bulldogs	5	2	4	–	–	16
2005	North Queensland Cowboys	26	–	5	28	2	78
2006	North Queensland Cowboys	17	–	11	49	–	142
2007	North Queensland Cowboys	25	–	10	78	–	196
2008	North Queensland Cowboys	17	–	4	39	–	94
2009	North Queensland Cowboys	23	–	12	79	–	202

Personal life

He was one of Cleo magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors for 2006. On the early hours of Saturday 25 October, Richard Saunders, the uncle of Johnathan Thurston was allegedly bashed by nine people. Mr Saunders, 38, and two other friends were assaulted. Mr Saunders died later in hospital. In January 2008, Thurston was arrested and held in a Townsville Watch House after being charged with being drunk in a public place. It is understood he was found asleep in front of a Flinders St West apartment block after returning home without keys.

Community work

In late 2005, Thurston was one of 13 NRL players who posed for the League Of Their Own 2006 calendar that was produced in the style of the Dieux du Stade calendars to raise money for the Koori Kids foundation. Thurston was chosen to appear on the cover of the calendar. He has also worked with the indigenous communities of North Queensland and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

External links

• North Queensland Cowboys profile
• Template:StateofOrigin player
• Johnathan Thurston at the Former Origin Greats website.