Johnathan Thurston
Encyclopedia
Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league
footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys
whom he co-captains (along with Matthew Scott
). An Australian international
and Queensland State of Origin
representative halfback and goal-kicker, he is also a two-time Dally M Medal
and one-time Wally Lewis Medal winner. Thurston started his career at the Bulldogs with whom he won the 2004 NRL premiership before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys
in 2005, playing in that year's grand final
. In 2008 he was named as halfback of the Australian Aboriginal rugby league team
of the century.
and began playing rugby league at a very young age for Souths Sunnybank 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 Toowoomba Rugby League's All Whites 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, with many citing his small size as a problem. 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.
during Round 13 of the 2002 season
(the season the Bulldogs breached the salary cap), 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
(Thurston was a late inclusion for regular captain Steve Price who in the lead up to the match was ruled out with a knee injury. Thurston wore jersey #18 for the match). As Steve Price had initially housed and mentored him upon his arrival in Sydney, Thurston gave his premiership ring to Steve Price as a thank you. The NRL provided him with another soon after. 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
.
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 was awarded the Halfback of the Year award and the prestigious Dally M Medal
as the 2005 NRL season's Player of the Year. Helping North Queensland to the 2005 NRL grand final
, the first for the club. The Cowboys lost 30–16 to the Wests Tigers
, ending Thurston's chance of winning two consecutive Grand Finals.
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 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 led 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.
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 NRL season following his off-season surgery, but made a surprise return in Round 1. In the deciding match of the 2008 State of Origin series, 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. This year also saw Thurston the front runner for his third Dally M 'Player of the Year' Award, only to be surpassed in the points tally by a wonderful late season run by Jarryd Hayne
from the Parramatta Eels. Although missing out marginally on the top accolade Thurston had still maintained enough points to be named 'Halfback of the Year'.
After the 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
. He travelled with the Australian national team to Europe for the 2009 Four Nations tournament and was man-of-the-match in the Kangaroos' victory over England in the final in addition to being the tournament's top point-scorer.
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
.
He was 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 awards) an individual performance which made headlines referring to him as being Queenslands Greatest Halfback and with ex-players from both sides of the border making comments on his performance rivalling that of Andrew Johns' in 2005.
During a match against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, he was found guilty of swearing at the referee 8 times (something not common in Thurston's game) in regards to a forward pass decision against the Cowboys which aided in Manly winning 24-20.
Thurston played at halfback in Australia's victory in the 2011 ANZAC Test
. He suffered what at first appeared to be a horrific ACL
injury, in the second half of the Game III in the 2011 State of Origin series
. Thurston, who had to be driven off the field on the Medi-Cab initially feared he would be out for the rest of the season, however early prognosis claimed that with immediate surgery, he could be back by Round 25, and in time for a possible Cowboys finals appearance. At the time of his injury, Thurston was leading the Dally M Medal ladder by two clear man-of-the-match performances (six points ahead of nearest rival Kieran Foran
). After having scans the following day it was discovered that Thurston would miss 5–6 weeks and would have to wear a leg brace after the scans showed he had suffered a grade two medial ligament damage but would not require surgery. This was the 21st consecutive Origin match played by Thurston since his debut in Game I 2005, breaking one of his teammates' records in Cameron Smith
who played 19 consecutive Origins from his debut in Game III 2003. Post-season Thurston travelled with the Australian national team to England for the 2011 Four Nations tournament, where he starred in all four games for Australia. He picked up man of the match honours twice, including the final in which Australia won 30-8. He tallied 52 points during the tournament, scoring 3 tries and converting 22 goals from 25 attempts.
: 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
2009
: Dally M Halfback of the Year
2010: Preston Campbell
Medal for Man of the Match in the 2010 NRL All Stars Game
RLIF Award 2007 'International Back of the Year' (awarded by Rugby League World)
RLIF Award 2009 'Halfback of the Year'
RLIF Award 2011 'Halfback of the Year'
Rugby League State of Origin
Man of the Match: 3 Awards
In August, 2008, Thurston was named at half-back in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
As well as this, Thurston was the only player to have played in every single match of Queensland's six consecutive Origin series victories. He also has not missed an Origin match since his debut in Game One, 2005.
: NRL Grand Final
– Canterbury Bulldogs
– Winners
2005
: NRL Grand Final
– North Queensland Cowboys
– Runners-Up
Most Goals In Origin Match (7) – Game 2 June 11 (tied with Mal Meninga
).
magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors for 2006. On the early hours of Saturday 25 October 2008, 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.
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
.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
whom he co-captains (along with Matthew Scott
Matthew Scott
Matthew Scott is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and current co-captain for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League...
). An Australian international
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
and Queensland State of Origin
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
representative halfback and goal-kicker, he is also a two-time Dally M Medal
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
and one-time Wally Lewis Medal winner. Thurston started his career at the Bulldogs with whom he won the 2004 NRL premiership before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 2005, playing in that year's grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
. In 2008 he was named as halfback of the Australian Aboriginal rugby league team
Australian Aboriginal rugby league team
The Australia Aboriginal rugby league team is a rugby league football team that represents Australian Aborigines...
of the century.
Biography
Of Indigenous Australian descent Johnathan Thurston was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and began playing rugby league at a very young age for Souths Sunnybank Rugby League Football Club in Brisbane's southside. Later during his youth he moved to Toowoomba where he attended St. Mary's College
St. Mary's College, Toowoomba
St. Mary's College, Toowoomba is an all-boys Roman Catholic college in Queensland, Australia. The College was established by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1898, and currently has an enrolment of approximately 640 students from years 5 to 12....
, playing rugby league for his school and the Toowoomba Rugby League's All Whites club. Although a stand-out player at school and club level at 18 years of age, none of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
clubs were willing to sign the Queenslander, with many citing his small size as a problem. 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
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
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
National Rugby League season 2001
The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. The Newcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating minor premiers Parramatta Eels in the first ever night-time grand...
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 LeagueNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
during Round 13 of the 2002 season
National Rugby League season 2002
The 2002 NRL season was the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fifth to be run by the National Rugby League...
(the season the Bulldogs breached the salary cap), coming off the bench for the Bulldogs against the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
. As a specialist in the halves Thurston was stuck in the shadow of star Bulldogs halves pairing Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin is an Australian professional rugby league player. Sherwin currently plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. His position of choice is at half-back...
and Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
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
National Rugby League season 2004
The year 2004 NRL season was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed for the Telstra Premiership...
, he was part of the Premiership-winning side coming off the bench in the Bulldogs 16 – 13 win over the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
(Thurston was a late inclusion for regular captain Steve Price who in the lead up to the match was ruled out with a knee injury. Thurston wore jersey #18 for the match). As Steve Price had initially housed and mentored him upon his arrival in Sydney, Thurston gave his premiership ring to Steve Price as a thank you. The NRL provided him with another soon after. 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
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
for the 2005 NRL season
National Rugby League season 2005
The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final...
.
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 OriginRugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
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 was awarded the Halfback of the Year award and the prestigious Dally M Medal
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
as the 2005 NRL season's Player of the Year. Helping North Queensland to the 2005 NRL grand final
2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
, the first for the club. The Cowboys lost 30–16 to the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
, ending Thurston's chance of winning two consecutive Grand Finals.
In 2006 Thurston was instrumental in Queensland's State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
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
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
. He was chosen to play halfback for the first and second games against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
where he played excellent football and was rewarded 'Man of Match' honours for the first game. Despite losing the jumper to Ben Hornby
Ben Hornby
Ben Hornby is an Australian Naruto loving professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the St George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League...
for the first game against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
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
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
, he was appointed the Captain of the team following the retirement of Travis Norton
Travis Norton
Travis Norton is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
. 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 led 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
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Player of the Year Award for the second time in three years, narrowly edging out Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
' Robbie Farah
Robbie Farah
Robert Peter "Robbie" Farah is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Wests Tigers club in the National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays at hooker and can operate as a half-back...
due to his strong performances in the final rounds of the regular season.
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 NRL season following his off-season surgery, but made a surprise return in Round 1. In the deciding match of the 2008 State of Origin series, Thurston set up a try for Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
which would ultimately win the game. Thurston was also named the Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
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
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, 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
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
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. This year also saw Thurston the front runner for his third Dally M 'Player of the Year' Award, only to be surpassed in the points tally by a wonderful late season run by Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Lee Hayne is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian, Fiji international representative winger and fullback, he has played his entire NRL career to date with Parramatta, with whom he got to the...
from the Parramatta Eels. Although missing out marginally on the top accolade Thurston had still maintained enough points to be named 'Halfback of the Year'.
After the NRL season had ended, Thurston kicked seven goals from as many attempts as the Prime Minister’s team defeated Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
42–18 in Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
. He travelled with the Australian national team to Europe for the 2009 Four Nations tournament and was man-of-the-match in the Kangaroos' victory over England in the final in addition to being the tournament's top point-scorer.
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
2010 ANZAC Test
The 2010 ANZAC Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand on 7 May 2010. The match coincided with the official opening of AAMI Park in Melbourne. The match was won by Australia with a score of 12–8.-The teams:...
.
He was to be named man-of-the-match in Queensland's victory in Game I of the 2010 State of Origin series
2010 State of Origin series
The 2010 State of Origin series was the 29th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
(giving him a total of three Origin man-of-the-match awards) an individual performance which made headlines referring to him as being Queenslands Greatest Halfback and with ex-players from both sides of the border making comments on his performance rivalling that of Andrew Johns' in 2005.
During a match against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, he was found guilty of swearing at the referee 8 times (something not common in Thurston's game) in regards to a forward pass decision against the Cowboys which aided in Manly winning 24-20.
Thurston played at halfback in Australia's victory in the 2011 ANZAC Test
2011 ANZAC Test
The 2011 ANZAC Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand on 6 May 2011 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast. Australia won their tenth straight Anzac test with a score of 20–10.-Pre-game:...
. He suffered what at first appeared to be a horrific ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury, in the second half of the Game III in the 2011 State of Origin series
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
. Thurston, who had to be driven off the field on the Medi-Cab initially feared he would be out for the rest of the season, however early prognosis claimed that with immediate surgery, he could be back by Round 25, and in time for a possible Cowboys finals appearance. At the time of his injury, Thurston was leading the Dally M Medal ladder by two clear man-of-the-match performances (six points ahead of nearest rival Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre...
). After having scans the following day it was discovered that Thurston would miss 5–6 weeks and would have to wear a leg brace after the scans showed he had suffered a grade two medial ligament damage but would not require surgery. This was the 21st consecutive Origin match played by Thurston since his debut in Game I 2005, breaking one of his teammates' records in Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
who played 19 consecutive Origins from his debut in Game III 2003. Post-season Thurston travelled with the Australian national team to England for the 2011 Four Nations tournament, where he starred in all four games for Australia. He picked up man of the match honours twice, including the final in which Australia won 30-8. He tallied 52 points during the tournament, scoring 3 tries and converting 22 goals from 25 attempts.
Individual
2005National Rugby League season 2005
The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final...
: North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year
2005
National Rugby League season 2005
The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final...
: Dally M Player of the Year
2005
National Rugby League season 2005
The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final...
: Dally M Halfback of the Year
2007
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
: Dally M Player of the Year
2007
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
: Dally M Halfback of the Year
2008
National Rugby League season 2008
The 2008 NRL season was the 101st season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia, and the eleventh run by the National Rugby League. For the second year, sixteen teams competed for the 2008 Telstra Premiership title. The season commenced with the first matches played on 14 March...
: Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
Medal for State of Origin player of the series
2009
National Rugby League season 2009
The 2009 NRL season was the 102nd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the twelfth run by the National Rugby League. For the third consecutive year, sixteen teams competed for the 2009 Telstra Premiership title. The season commenced with the first match...
: Dally M Halfback of the Year
2010: Preston Campbell
Preston Campbell
Preston Campbell, is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
Medal for Man of the Match in the 2010 NRL All Stars Game
RLIF Award 2007 'International Back of the Year' (awarded by Rugby League World)
RLIF Award 2009 'Halfback of the Year'
RLIF Award 2011 'Halfback of the Year'
Rugby League State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
Man of the Match: 3 Awards
In August, 2008, Thurston was named at half-back in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
As well as this, Thurston was the only player to have played in every single match of Queensland's six consecutive Origin series victories. He also has not missed an Origin match since his debut in Game One, 2005.
Team
2004National Rugby League season 2004
The year 2004 NRL season was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed for the Telstra Premiership...
: NRL Grand Final
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
– Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
– Winners
2005
National Rugby League season 2005
The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final...
: NRL Grand Final
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
– North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
– Runners-Up
Records
2008: State of OriginRugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
Most Goals In Origin Match (7) – Game 2 June 11 (tied with Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
).
Season-by-Season
| Season | Team | Appearance | Interchange | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Bulldogs | 03 | 04 | 02 | — | — | 20 |
| 2003 | Bulldogs | 09 | 06 | 04 | — | — | 32 |
| 2004 | Bulldogs | 05 | 02 | 04 | — | — | 16 |
| 2005 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
26 | — | 05 | 28 | 2 | 78 |
| 2006 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
17 | — | 11 | 49 | — | 142 |
| 2007 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
25 | — | 10 | 78 | — | 196 |
| 2008 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
17 | — | 04 | 39 | — | 94 |
| 2009 | North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
23 | — | 12 | 79 | — | 202 |
| 2010 2010 NRL season The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium... |
North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
17 | — | 02 | 43 | 1 | 95 |
| 2011 2011 NRL season The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the... |
North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
19 | - | 10 | 61 | - | 162 |
Personal life
He was one of CleoCleo (magazine)
CLEO is an Australian, New Zealand, South African, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thailand and Indonesian women's magazine.Aimed at an older audience than the teenage-focused Dolly, the magazine is known for its CLEO Bachelor of the Year award....
magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors for 2006. On the early hours of Saturday 25 October 2008, 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.
Community work
In late 2005, Thurston was one of 13 NRL players who posed for the League Of Their Own 2006League Of Their Own 2006
League Of Their Own 2006 is a black-and-white nude calendar featuring 12 of the Australian rugby league players from the National Rugby League competition...
calendar that was produced in the style of the Dieux du Stade
Dieux du Stade
Dieux du Stade is the title of two books and several calendars and DVDs first published in 2001, featuring nude and semi-nude photographs of members of Stade Français, a Paris-based domestic French rugby team...
calendars to raise money for the Koori
Koori
The Koori are the indigenous Australians that traditionally occupied modern day New South Wales and Victoria....
Kids foundation. Thurston was chosen to appear on the cover of the calendar. He has also worked with the indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
communities of North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Australian Red Cross Blood Service
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is a branch of the Australian Red Cross. It is the body primarily responsible for blood donation and related services in Australia.-History:...
.