Johnathan Thurston

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Johnathan Thurston
fullname = Johnathan Dean Thurston
nickname = JTcite web|title=Player profile of Johnathan Thurston|url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/players.php?comp=NRL%202007&id=30|publisher=North Queensland Cowboys|accessdate=2007-09-16]


caption =
country =
position = rlp|HB|FE
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|4|25|df=yes
placeofbirth = Brisbane, Queensland
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
weight = 83 kg (13 st 9 lbs)
club1 =
year1start = 2002
year1end = 2004
appearances1 = 29
tries1 = 10
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 40
club2 =
year2start = 2005
year2end = present
appearances2 = 85
tries2 = 30
goals2 = 195
fieldgoals2 = 2
points2 = 510
teamA =
yearAstart = 2005
yearAend = present
appearancesA = 12
triesA = 1
goalsA = 22
fieldgoalsA = 2
pointsA = 50
teamB =
yearBstart = 2006
yearBend = present
appearancesB = 7
triesB = 0
goalsB = 26
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 52
updated = 7 September 2008
source =

Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for and captains the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League competition. A two-time Dally M Medal and Wally Lewis medalist, he has also represented Queensland and Australia.

Career

Before the NRL

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 west, an hour out of Brisbane, to the city of 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 Canterbury 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. [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,22460660-23214,00.html?from=public_rss How Thurston signed up for free - League - Fox Sports ] ]

Canterbury 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 & 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 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 the was awarded the Halfback of the Year award and the prestigious Player of the Year Dally M Medal for 2005 for his impressive displays throughout the season.

The previous year and his performances already had him well ahead on the Dally M Medal tally after only a handful of games. Fact|date=July 2007 Then mid-season many fans believed Thurston's form started to drop off, simultaneously it seemed with the Cowboys in general as they finished 9th on the ladder narrowly missing out on a finals berth by 2 points. However, despite his poor club form, he was still 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.

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 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 clubs second Grand Final appearance losing to the second-placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in what was other wise a successful year. Individually, Thurston was brilliant yet again and in September, Thurston won the Halfback of the Year & the Dally M Medal Player of the Year Award for the second time in three years, narrowly edging out Wests Tigers Hooker 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 from the constant workload he endured in professional Rugby League.

Thurston 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.

Unfortunately for Thurston he would not replicate the previous years successes in 2008 as the cowboys seemed to lose all of its exciting spark that saw them renovate the clubs reputaion in recent years. Three wins at the start of the yeard held promise but after a record breaking 15 match losing streak all hope faded. Graham Murrays departure seeming to only damage the team even more.

Representative career

Thurston showed courage and mental strength in recovering 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.

Thurston has represented Queensland on twelve occasions. He was named 'Man of the Match' for his performance in Queensland's victory in Game One of the 2007 State of Origin series.

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.

In August 2008, Thurston was named in the Australia training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, [cite news|author=Liam FitzGibbon|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=Surprises in Kangaroos squad|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24111780-23214,00.html|accessdate=2008-08-02|date=2008-08-01] cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/01/sports/AS-RGL-Australia-Squad.php|title=Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-08-01|accessdate=2008-08-02] and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656211.stm|title=Manly six win Australia call-up|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-07]

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". [cite news|publisher="ABC News"|title=Modern stars join greats in Indigenous Team of Century |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/09/2329969.htm |accessdate=2008-08-10|date=2008-08-09]

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).

Personal life

Thurston's parents are Graham (New Zealander) and Debbie (Aboriginal). He has a brother, Shane and sister, Isabel.

He was one of Cleo magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors for 2006.

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. [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,23133195-5003409,00.html 1]

Community work

In late 2005, Thurston was one of 12 of the hottest players in the NRL that posed for the "League Of Their Own 2006" calendar that was produced in the style of the famous 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.cowboys.com.au/players.php?comp=NRL%202008&id=78 North Queensland Cowboys profile]
*StateofOrigin player|438
*FOGS player|150