Johnathan Thurston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Johnathan Thurston
AM

Thurston in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Johnathan Dean Thurston
Born	(1983-04-25) 25 April 1983 (age 42) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Halfback, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2002–04 Canterbury Bulldogs 29 10 0 0 40 2005–18 North Queensland 294 80 923 16 2182 Total 323 90 923 16 2222 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005–17 Queensland 37 5 99 2 220 2006–17 Australia 38 13 165 0 382 2009 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 7 0 14 2010–17 Indigenous All Stars 1 17 0 38

Johnathan Dean Thurston AM (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league player. He played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston played for the Australian national team. He also represented Queensland in the State of Origin series and the Indigenous All Stars. He usually played as a halfback or five-eighth and was very good at kicking goals. Since 2021, Thurston has been an assistant coach for the Queensland rugby league team.

Johnathan Thurston started his career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He helped them win the 2004 NRL premiership. In 2005, he moved to the North Queensland Cowboys and played in the grand final that year. He also made his debut for Queensland in 2005 and for Australia in 2006. In 2008, he won the Wally Lewis Medal as the best player in the State of Origin series. He was also named the halfback in the Australian Aboriginal Team of the Century.

Thurston played in every game of Queensland's amazing eight-year winning streak in the State of Origin from 2006. He played 36 consecutive Origin matches since his first game in 2005. In the 2015 State of Origin series, he broke the record for most points scored in State of Origin history. Also in 2015, Thurston was a co-captain for the North Queensland Cowboys. He led them, with teammate Matt Scott, to their first-ever NRL Premiership. He also won the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player in that grand final.

In 2015, he became the first player to win the Dally M Medal (for the NRL's best player) four times. Later that year, he was the first to win the Golden Boot Award (for the world's best player) three times. Johnathan Thurston stopped playing rugby league in 2018. He then started the Johnathan Thurston Academy (JTAcademy). This academy helps young Australians find educational and job resources to get good employment.

Early Life and Junior Rugby League

Thurston was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His mother is from the Gunggari people, an Indigenous Australian group. His father is New Zealand Māori and also has English family.

He started playing rugby league at a very young age for Souths Sunnybank RLFC in Brisbane. When he was 12, Thurston got a scholarship with the South Queensland Crushers. Later, he moved to Toowoomba and went to St. Mary's College. He played both rugby league and rugby union there.

Even though he was a great player in school, many National Rugby League clubs didn't want to sign him when he was 18. They thought he was too small. His manager, Sam Ayoub, said some clubs wouldn't even take him for free. But the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs eventually signed him in 2001 for no playing fee. That same year, Thurston was chosen for the Queensland Under-19 team.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting Out (2002–2004)

Thurston played his first NRL game for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2002. He came off the bench in a game against the Penrith Panthers. In his first season, he scored two tries in seven games. He was behind other experienced players at the Bulldogs. Many people still thought he was too small for the NRL.

In 2003, Thurston played in 15 matches and scored four tries.

In his last year with the Bulldogs in 2004, he was part of the team that won the Premiership. He came off the bench in their 16–13 win over the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 NRL Grand Final. Thurston wore jersey #18 because the regular captain, Steve Price, was injured. Thurston gave his premiership ring to Price as a thank you. Price then gave Thurston another ring. After this season, Thurston moved to the North Queensland Cowboys for 2005. He played seven matches and scored four tries that year.

Joining the Cowboys and State of Origin Debut (2005)

In 2005, Thurston played his first game for the North Queensland Cowboys. He played at five-eighth against the Brisbane Broncos. In Round 4, he scored his first try for the Cowboys. Moving to Queensland was a big change for his career. He became the starting halfback for the Cowboys.

His great playing earned him his first Queensland State of Origin jersey. In his first Origin game in 2005, he was voted Player's Player. He kicked a field goal to make the game go into extra time, and Queensland won. In Game 3, Thurston scored a try.

For the Cowboys, Thurston won the Halfback of the Year award. He also won the famous Dally M Medal as the best player in the 2005 NRL season. He helped the Cowboys reach their first-ever 2005 NRL Grand Final. The Cowboys lost 30–16 to the Wests Tigers. Thurston played 26 matches, scored 5 tries, kicked 28 goals, and kicked 2 field goals in 2005. This was the start of a fantastic career.

Australian Debut and More Success (2006–2007)

Thurston started the 2006 NRL season strongly. In Round 1, he scored three tries and kicked six goals against the Brisbane Broncos. This started a six-game winning streak for the Cowboys. Thurston made his international debut for Australia in the 2006 Anzac Test against New Zealand.

In the 2006 State of Origin series, Thurston was key to Queensland winning the series 2–1. He played in all three matches and kicked seven goals. Later that year, Thurston played for Australia in the Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against New Zealand, Thurston helped set up the winning try for Darren Lockyer. Australia won 16–12.

Thurston in 2007

In 2007, Thurston became the captain of the Cowboys. He was again chosen for the Australian team in the 2007 Anzac Test. He kicked five goals in Australia's 30–6 win. In Game One of the 2007 State of Origin series, Thurston was named 'Man of the Match'. The Cowboys improved a lot under his captaincy. They finished third in the regular season. On 4 September 2007, Thurston won the Halfback of the Year and his second Dally M Medal Player of the Year Award. He played 25 matches, scored 10 tries, and kicked 78 goals for the Cowboys in 2007.

World Cup and Continued Excellence (2008–2011)

Thurston playing for Australia in the opening game of the 2008 World Cup against New Zealand. He was named man-of-the-match.

After surgery on his shoulder, Thurston made a surprise return for the Cowboys in Round 1 of the 2008 NRL season. In Round 3, he played his 100th NRL match. Thurston was selected for Australia in the Centenary Test against New Zealand. In the deciding game of the 2008 State of Origin series, Thurston helped set up a try that won the game and series for Queensland. He was named the Wally Lewis Player of the Series. Thurston played 17 matches, scored 4 tries, and kicked 39 goals for the Cowboys in 2008. He also played for Australia in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. He was named man-of-the-match in Australia's first game against New Zealand.

Thurston (front) and Greg Inglis training with Queensland in 2009

In 2009, Thurston played for Australia in the 2009 Anzac Test, scoring two tries and kicking five goals. He was chosen for all three matches of the 2009 State of Origin series. In Game Two, Queensland made history by winning their fourth series in a row. In Round 17, Thurston played his 100th club match for the Cowboys. He was named 'Halfback of the Year'. Thurston played 23 matches, scored 11 tries, and kicked 79 goals for the Cowboys in 2009. He also helped Australia win the 2009 Rugby League Four Nations tournament.

In 2010, Thurston was chosen for the first-ever Indigenous All Stars team. He was named the Preston Campbell Medal man-of-the-match. In Game 1 of the 2010 State of Origin series, Thurston was named man-of-the-match again. He played 17 matches, scored 2 tries, kicked 43 goals, and kicked 1 field goal for the Cowboys in 2010.

In 2011, Thurston played for the Indigenous All Stars team again. He also played for Australia in the 2011 Anzac Test. In Game 3 of the 2011 State of Origin series, Thurston got a knee injury. Luckily, it wasn't as bad as first thought, and he returned later in the season. The Cowboys made the finals that year. Thurston played 19 matches, scored 10 tries, and kicked 61 goals for the Cowboys. After the season, Thurston helped Australia win the 2011 Four Nations tournament. He was named man of the match three times, including in the final. For his great 2011 season, Thurston won the Golden Boot Award.

Record Breaking Years (2012–2015)

In 2012, Thurston played his 150th club match for the Cowboys. In the 2012 Anzac Test, he was named man-of-the-match for Australia. Thurston helped Queensland win their seventh straight Origin series. He played 24 matches, scored 3 tries, kicked 90 goals, and kicked 1 field goal for the Cowboys in 2012. He was also named the NRL's five-eighth of the year at the 2012 Dally M Awards.

Thurston at Old Trafford during the 2013 RLWC Final

In 2013, Thurston signed a big contract to stay with the Cowboys. In Round 3, he played his 200th NRL career match. He played for Australia in the 2013 Anzac Test. Thurston was Queensland's five-eighth in the 2013 State of Origin series. In the final game, he scored a try and kicked two goals, helping Queensland win their eighth series in a row. Thurston played 22 matches, scored 2 tries, kicked 71 goals, and kicked 1 field goal for the Cowboys in 2013. He also helped Australia win the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. In the World Cup final, Thurston was named man-of-the-match. He also broke the record for most test points for Australia.

In 2014, Thurston won his second Golden Boot Award. He played in the 2014 Anzac Test and was named man-of-the-match. In Round 10, Thurston played his 200th club match for the Cowboys. He broke Mal Meninga's record for most points in State of Origin history. Thurston played 24 matches, scored 11 tries, kicked 93 goals, and kicked 4 field goals for the Cowboys in 2014. He also won his third Dally M Player of the Year Award, sharing it with Jarryd Hayne. He also won Five-eighth of the Year and the Provan-Summons Medal.

In 2015, Thurston played for the Indigenous All Stars again. The Indigenous team won. After a tough start to the season, the Cowboys went on a club record 11-game winning streak. Thurston played in all three matches of Queensland's 2015 State of Origin series win. On 28 September 2015, Thurston won his fourth Dally M Player of the Year award by a record margin. He also won Dally M Halfback of the Year and Dally M Captain of the Year with Matthew Scott.

On 4 October 2015, in the 2015 NRL Grand Final against the Brisbane Broncos, the game was tied at the end. Thurston missed a conversion to win the game, sending it to golden point extra time. The Cowboys won the toss, and after a mistake by the Broncos, Thurston kicked a field goal in the 82nd minute. This secured the North Queensland Cowboys' first-ever premiership! Thurston was named the Clive Churchill Medal man-of-the-match. He finished his amazing 2015 season with 24 matches, 4 tries, 93 goals, and 6 field goals. In November, Thurston won his third Golden Boot Award.

Final Years (2016–2018)

Thurston warming up for the Kangaroos in London in 2016

In 2016, Thurston helped the Cowboys win the 2016 World Club Challenge against Leeds. He scored a try and kicked five goals, earning the Graham Murray Medal as man of the match. In Round 7, he scored his 1000th point at 1300SMILES Stadium. On 6 May 2016, Thurston played for Australia against New Zealand. In Round 11, he played his 250th club match for the Cowboys and kicked the winning field goal against the Brisbane Broncos. Thurston later announced he would likely retire at the end of the 2018 season.

Thurston warming up for Australia at Anfield in 2016

Thurston was part of the Australian team that won the 2016 Four Nations tournament. He played a key role in the final against New Zealand, kicking five goals. He was the highest point scorer in the series.

In 2017, Thurston had some injuries. He recovered from a calf injury to play in the 2017 ANZAC Test for Australia. During that game, he got a shoulder injury that kept him out for eight weeks. He returned for State of Origin Game 2, where he kicked the winning goal for Queensland. However, he then found out he had a season-ending shoulder injury. This meant he missed the rest of the 2017 NRL season, including the Cowboys' grand final. After Queensland won Game 3 of the 2017 State of Origin Series, captain Cameron Smith invited Thurston to lift the Origin Shield with him. This was a special send-off for Thurston from State of Origin.

Thurston returned to the Cowboys in 2018. In Round 1, he finally played his 300th NRL match. The Cowboys had a tough season, finishing 13th. Thurston played his final game against the Gold Coast Titans. He played a brilliant game, and the Cowboys won 30–26.

Achievements and Awards

Individual Awards

• Dally M Medal Player of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2014, 2015
• Dally M Halfback of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015
• Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2014
• Dally M Captain of the Year: 2015
• RLPA Player of the Year: 2005, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Rugby League World Golden Boot Award: 2011, 2013, 2015
• Indigenous Halfback of the Century (1908–2007)
• North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2005, 2012, 2014, 2015
• Provan-Summons Medal: 2014, 2015
• Clive Churchill Medal: 2015
• Graham Murray Medal: 2016
• Wally Lewis Medal: 2008
• Preston Campbell Medal: 2010, 2017
• Ken Stephen Medal: 2012
• State of Origin most consecutive matches: 36 (2005–2016)
• State of Origin all-time highest point scorer.
• All time highest point scorer in Australian test player.

In 2014, Thurston became a life member of the North Queensland Cowboys. In 2015 and 2018, he was named Philips Sports Dad of the Year. In 2015, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from James Cook University. This was for his great service to the northern Queensland community. In 2019, Thurston was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award was for his important contributions to rugby league and for being a role model. In 2023, he was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2024, the National Rugby League announced that Thurston was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame.

Team Achievements

Records Held

• Most Dally M Medals: 4 (2005, 2007, 2014, 2015)
• Most Golden Boot Awards: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
• Most RLPA Players' Player Medals: 4 (2005, 2013, 2014, 2015)
• Most career points for the Australian test team: 334 (2006–2017)
• Most career goals for the Australian test team: 143 (2006–2017)
• Most consecutive games in State of Origin: 36 (2005–2017)
• Most career points in State of Origin: 224 (2005–2017)
• Most career goals in State of Origin: 101 (2005–2017)
• Most North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year Awards: 4 (2005, 2012, 2014, 2015)

Personal Life and Community Work

Thurston with Ros Croucher, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, after being awarded the 2017 Human Rights Medal.

Thurston has been in a relationship with Samantha Lynch since 2008. They got married in 2015 and have four daughters.

In 2022, Thurston had a voice role in an episode of the Australian children's TV show Bluey. He provided commentary for a fictional State of Origin match.

Community Work

Thurston is known for his community work. He has worked with Indigenous communities in North Queensland. He is also known for always handing his kicking tee to the ball boy and giving his headgear to a young fan after a match. In December 2017, Thurston received the Australian Human Rights Commission Medal. This was for his work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In 2017, he also won the Queenslander of the Year award.

Images for kids

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  Thurston in 2015

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  Thurston in 2007

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  Thurston playing for Australia in the opening game of the 2008 World Cup against New Zealand. He was named man-of-the-match.

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  Thurston (front) and Greg Inglis training with Queensland in 2009

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  Thurston at Old Trafford during the 2013 RLWC Final

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  Thurston warming up for the Kangaroos in London in 2016

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  Thurston warming up for Australia at Anfield in 2016

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  Thurston with Ros Croucher, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, after being awarded the 2017 Human Rights Medal.