Johnathan Thurston

Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Thurston
Born	April 25, 1983 (age 43); Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)	Professional rugby league player, assistant coach
Years active	2002–2018 (player), 2021–present (coach)
Known for	NRL player, Queensland State of Origin representative, Australian international rugby league player

Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is a retired Australian professional rugby league player who competed in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston represented Australia at the international level, played for Queensland in the State of Origin, and was a member of the Indigenous All Stars, primarily occupying the positions of or . He was also renowned for his goal-kicking abilities. Since 2021, he has taken on the role of assistant coach for the Queensland squad.

Thurston's professional journey started with the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, where he was part of the team that clinched the 2004 NRL premiership. The following year, he transferred to the North Queensland Cowboys and participated in that season's grand final. His debut appearances for Queensland and Australia occurred in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In 2008, Thurston received the Wally Lewis Medal as the standout player of the State of Origin series and was honored as halfback in the Australian Aboriginal team of the century. He featured in every one of Queensland's 24 consecutive State of Origin victories over eight years starting from 2006, playing 36 straight Origin matches from his debut.

During the 2015 State of Origin series, Thurston broke the record for the highest points scored in State of Origin history, contributing to a commanding 52–6 victory against New South Wales. That same year, he co-captained the North Queensland Cowboys alongside Matt Scott, leading them to their first-ever NRL Premiership title. His performance earned him the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match in the grand final.

In 2015, Thurston made history by becoming the first player to win the Dally M Medal—awarded to the best NRL player of the season—four times. Additionally, he secured his third Golden Boot Award, recognizing him as the world's top rugby league player.

Background

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Thurston is of mixed heritage with a mother from the Gunggari Indigenous Australian community and a father who is a New Zealand Māori with English ancestry.

He started playing rugby league at a young age with Souths Sunnybank RLFC in Brisbane. At just 12 years old, he earned a scholarship from the South Queensland Crushers. Later on, he relocated to Toowoomba, where he attended St. Mary's College and distinguished himself in both rugby league and Rugby Union while representing his school and Toowoomba Rugby League’s All Whites club.

Despite impressive performances at both school and club levels, Thurston encountered difficulties securing contracts with National Rugby League teams at age 18 due to doubts about his physical stature. Numerous clubs rejected offers even when no signing fee was requested. The only coach willing to sign him without charge was Nathan Brown of St George Illawarra Dragons. Ultimately, manager Sam Ayoub arranged a contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, honoring a commitment made to Thurston’s mother and taking into account Belmore Sports Ground’s close location to his residence. Thurston joined Canterbury during the 2001 NRL season on a contract with no playing fee and earned selection for Queensland’s Under-19 squad that same year.

Early Career (2002–2004)

Thurston made his first NRL appearance with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round 13 of the 2002 NRL season, entering the game from the bench during a 38–24 triumph over the Penrith Panthers at Penrith Stadium. He registered his inaugural two tries in round 21, contributing to a 34–26 win against the North Queensland Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium. Concluding his rookie season, Thurston tallied 2 tries across 7 games, though his opportunities were limited due to the Bulldogs’ salary cap violations.

During the 2003 season, Thurston participated in 15 matches and crossed the try line four times. Over his three-year tenure with Canterbury-Bankstown, he featured in 29 games but was unable to secure a consistent starting position, competing behind established halves Brent Sherwin and Braith Anasta. Despite evident talent, some analysts expressed concerns regarding his physical stature for top-level NRL competition.

In 2004, Thurston was a member of the Bulldogs’ premiership-winning squad, coming off the bench in their narrow 16–13 Grand Final victory over the Sydney Roosters. Wearing jersey number 18 as a late replacement for injured captain Steve Price, Thurston later presented his premiership ring to Price as a token of appreciation for his guidance. That year, he appeared in 7 matches and scored 4 tries.

At season’s conclusion, it was confirmed that Thurston would depart Canterbury to join the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2005 campaign. Notably, although Thurston wished to stay at Canterbury despite a pay cut offer, management advised that leaving was preferable after Sherwin and Anasta were re-signed. He also turned down an invitation from the New Zealand national team, opting instead to represent Australia and Queensland.

2005

Thurston’s debut for North Queensland occurred in round 1 of the 2005 NRL season, where he played five-eighth against the Brisbane Broncos in a 29–16 defeat. His first try for the Cowboys came in round 4 during a commanding 52–18 victory over the Newcastle Knights. Returning to Queensland marked a pivotal moment in his career as he secured the starting halfback role and earned selection for the Queensland side in the State of Origin series. In Game 1 at Suncorp Stadium, Thurston was named Player's Player after outstanding tackling and kicking a field goal that pushed the match into extra time, helping Queensland secure a 24–20 win. He also scored a try in Game 3 despite Queensland’s 32–10 loss.

At club level, Thurston received both the Halfback of the Year award and the prestigious Dally M Medal as the NRL’s Player of the Year for 2005. He led North Queensland to their maiden 2005 NRL Grand Final appearance; however, they were defeated 30–16 by the Wests Tigers, halting Thurston’s chance at back-to-back grand final victories. Throughout that season, he played 26 games, scored five tries, kicked 28 goals, and contributed two field goals, marking the beginning of an illustrious career.

2006

The start of the 2006 NRL season saw Thurston deliver an impressive performance by scoring three tries and kicking six goals in Round 1 against Brisbane Broncos, aiding North Queensland to a dominant 36–4 win at Suncorp Stadium. This effort ignited a six-game winning streak for the club. Internationally, he made his debut for Australia during the 2006 Anzac Test versus New Zealand, coming off the bench as part of Australia’s commanding 50–12 victory. In that year’s 2006 State of Origin series, Thurston played all three matches and contributed seven goals to help Queensland secure a series win of 2–1.

Following Origin, North Queensland endured a mid-season downturn worsened by Thurston suffering a dislocated knee in Round 20. His absence contributed to the Cowboys missing out on finals qualification with a ninth-place finish. Thurston completed the year with statistics including 17 appearances, 11 tries, and 49 goals. After recovering from injury, he represented the Prime Minister's XIII before being selected for Australia’s squad in the Tri-Nations tournament. He earned 'Man of the Match' honors in Australia’s opening game against New Zealand and started at halfback throughout subsequent fixtures. Although briefly replaced by Ben Hornby against Great Britain, Thurston returned for their second encounter and maintained his position for the final against New Zealand. In golden point extra time during that final match, Thurston’s break facilitated Darren Lockyer’s decisive try, securing Australia’s Tri-Nations triumph and concluding his year on a high note.

2007

In his third season with the Cowboys during the 2007 NRL season, Thurston was named team Captain following the retirement of Travis Norton. He earned selection as halfback for the Australian national squad in the 2007 Anzac Test versus New Zealand, successfully converting 5 goals in the Kangaroos' 30–6 triumph at Suncorp Stadium. Thurston received 'Man of the Match' accolades in Game One of the 2007 State of Origin series as Queensland secured a 25–18 win.

With Thurston leading as captain, the Cowboys showed marked improvement, finishing third on the league table; however, their campaign ended short of a grand final berth after a 28–6 defeat to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. On 4 September 2007, Thurston claimed both the Halfback of the Year and the Dally M Medal Player of the Year honors for the second time within three years, narrowly surpassing Robbie Farah thanks to an impressive late-season surge. Throughout the season, he appeared in 25 games, crossing for 10 tries and kicking 78 goals for the Cowboys.

2008

Following the conclusion of 2007, Thurston underwent significant shoulder surgery due to ligament injuries, requiring two reconstructions. Although anticipated to return by Round 5 of the 2008 NRL season, he made an unexpected comeback in Round 1 against the Gold Coast Titans, scoring twice despite a 36–18 loss. In Round 3, Thurston marked his 100th NRL appearance during a defeat to the Brisbane Broncos.

Selected at halfback for Australia in the Centenary Test against New Zealand, he contributed 4 successful goal kicks in a 28–12 victory at the SCG. In the decisive match of the 2008 State of Origin series, Thurston assisted a key try by Billy Slater, helping Queensland clinch a 16–10 series win and earning him the prestigious Wally Lewis Player of the Series award.

Despite a promising start with three wins, the Cowboys experienced a club-record losing streak of 15 consecutive matches, halting their earlier momentum. Thurston participated in 17 games that year, scoring four tries and kicking 39 goals. In August, he was included in Australia's training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and secured his place in the final 24-man roster by October.

During Australia's opening World Cup fixture, Thurston delivered an outstanding performance and was named man-of-the-match despite facing personal hardship shortly beforehand. Playing at halfback, he kicked two goals in the final where Australia fell 34–20 to New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.

2009

Thurston was once again selected as halfback for Australia in the 2009 Anzac Test against New Zealand, recording two tries and five goals in the Kangaroos’ commanding 38–10 victory at Suncorp Stadium. In April, he was named within Queensland’s preliminary 25-man squad for the 2009 State of Origin series and featured at halfback across all three matches. Thurston played a pivotal role as Queensland secured their fourth straight series title with a 24–14 win in Game Two at ANZ Stadium, although they were defeated 28–16 in Game Three at Suncorp Stadium.

In Round 17 of the 2009 NRL season, Thurston celebrated his 100th club game for the Cowboys during a 24–4 victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He was considered a strong candidate for his third Dally M 'Player of the Year' Award but ultimately finished behind Jarryd Hayne while still receiving 'Halfback of the Year' recognition. Throughout that season, he played in 23 matches, scored eleven tries, and kicked seventy-nine goals.

Afterwards, he contributed seven goals as part of the Prime Minister's XIII side that defeated Papua New Guinea 42–18 in Port Moresby. Thurston then represented Australia in the 2009 Rugby League Four Nations tournament held in Europe. In the final against England, he earned man-of-the-match honors during Australia's dominant 46–16 win at Elland Road, concluding as top scorer of the tournament with thirty-six points from one try and seventeen goals.

2010

On 13 February 2010, Thurston earned selection as halfback for the first-ever Indigenous All Stars squad, contributing two successful goal kicks and receiving the Preston Campbell Medal as the standout player in the 16–12 triumph at Cbus Super Stadium. A shoulder injury sustained in Round 5 against the Wests Tigers forced him to miss the 2010 Anzac Test. In the opening match of the 2010 State of Origin series, Thurston was awarded man-of-the-match honors during Queensland's narrow 28–24 victory, marking his third time receiving this accolade in Origin play. His display invited comparisons to Andrew Johns' exceptional 2005 season and was celebrated as an exemplar of Queensland’s finest halfbacks.

In Round 12 versus the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Thurston faced a charge for using inappropriate language toward the referee following a contentious forward pass ruling that influenced Manly’s 24–20 win. He marked his 150th NRL appearance during Round 18 against the Parramatta Eels in a 36–24 defeat. Concluding the 2010 NRL season, Thurston participated in 17 games, crossing for 2 tries, converting 43 goals, and slotting one field goal for the Cowboys. An ankle injury prevented his involvement in the 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament.

2011

On 12 February 2011, Thurston was once again named halfback for the Indigenous All Stars team in the NRL All Stars match at Cbus Super Stadium, where they were defeated 28–12. During the 2011 Anzac Test against New Zealand, he occupied the halfback role and successfully kicked two goals, contributing to Australia’s 20–10 victory at Cbus Super Stadium. In Game 3 of the 2011 State of Origin series, he sustained what was initially feared to be an ACL injury but was later confirmed as grade two medial ligament damage, requiring no surgical intervention and entailing a recovery period of five to six weeks. At that stage, he led the Dally M Medal standings by six points. This injury interrupted his run of 21 consecutive Origin appearances since 2005, surpassing teammate Cameron Smith’s previous record of 19.

Thurston made his return in Round 23 facing the Brisbane Broncos at Dairy Farmers Stadium in a match that ended with a 34–16 loss. The Cowboys secured seventh place on the ladder but suffered a heavy finals defeat to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, losing 42–8. Throughout the 2011 NRL season, Thurston took part in 19 matches, crossing for 10 tries and kicking 61 goals.

Following the NRL season, Thurston excelled representing Australia in the 2011 Four Nations competition held in England. He earned man-of-the-match distinctions on three occasions, including the final where Australia triumphed 30–8 at Elland Road. Over the tournament, he amassed a total of 52 points through three tries and successfully converting 22 goals from 25 attempts. His exceptional contributions were recognized with the prestigious Golden Boot Award for that year.

2012

In Round 6 against the Melbourne Storm, Thurston reached his milestone of playing his 150th NRL game for the Cowboys during a 42–18 defeat at Dairy Farmers Stadium. During the 2012 Anzac Test versus New Zealand, he operated at five-eighth, crossing for a try and converting all four goal attempts, earning man-of-the-match honors as part of the Kangaroos’ 20–12 victory at Eden Park. Thurston played an integral role as Queensland secured their seventh consecutive series win with a 2–1 result in the 2012 State of Origin series. Over the course of the 2012 NRL season, he featured in 24 matches, scored three tries, kicked 90 goals, and added one field goal for North Queensland. At the 2012 Dally M Awards, he was recognized as the NRL’s five-eighth of the year. On 13 October, Thurston participated in a one-off Trans-Tasman test at 1300SMILES Stadium, successfully kicking three goals during Australia’s 18–10 victory over New Zealand.

2013

On 11 March, Thurston secured rugby league's most lucrative contract by signing a four-year deal worth $5 million to continue with the North Queensland Cowboys. Although he was nearly contracted by the Penrith Panthers, he opted to stay in Townsville to be present for the birth of his first child. During Round 3 against the Newcastle Knights, Thurston marked his 200th NRL appearance in a 34–6 defeat at Hunter Stadium. Playing at five-eighth in the 2013 Anzac Test versus New Zealand, he contributed to Australia's 32–12 triumph at Canberra Stadium. Thurston also served as Queensland’s five-eighth in the 2013 State of Origin series, where he scored a try and converted two goals in the decisive match, aiding in extending Queensland’s record to eight consecutive series victories.

Alongside teammates Matt Bowen and Brent Tate, Thurston guided the Cowboys into the 2013 finals after a streak of six straight wins; however, they were ousted in a contentious first-round clash with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, which featured a debated seventh tackle try. Thurston later implied that there was an NRL bias favoring an all-Sydney grand final. Throughout the 2013 NRL season, he participated in 22 games, crossing for 2 tries, kicking 71 goals, and slotting one field goal for the Cowboys.

Following the season, Thurston was selected for Australia's squad in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He earned man-of-the-match honors in the final against New Zealand, steering Australia to a commanding 34–2 win at Old Trafford. In doing so, Thurston surpassed Mick Cronin’s 31-year-old record by amassing over 309 test points for Australia. Across five matches during the tournament, he scored two tries and successfully kicked 33 goals.

2014

On 17 January 2014, Thurston was honored with the Golden Boot Award for 2013, marking his second receipt of this accolade within three years following pivotal contributions to Australia’s World Cup victory and Queensland’s State of Origin success. He played at five-eighth in the 2014 Anzac Test, converting five goals as Australia defeated their opponents 30–18 at Sydney Football Stadium. In Round 10 against the Sydney Roosters, Thurston reached his milestone of 200 club games for the Cowboys by scoring a try and kicking seven goals during a dominant 42–10 win at 1300SMILES Stadium.

Thurston continued as Queensland’s five-eighth throughout the 2014 State of Origin series. Although Queensland was defeated overall, he surpassed Mal Meninga’s record as top point-scorer with his second penalty goal in Game 2. In Game 3, Thurston successfully kicked all six goals to help Queensland secure a 32–8 victory over New South Wales. After the series concluded, he transitioned to halfback starting from Round 19 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, playing a key role in a 36–18 victory at Remondis Stadium.

He retained the halfback position for the remainder of the season, including an intense Finals Week 2 encounter against the Sydney Roosters where the Cowboys nearly overturned a 30-point deficit before narrowly falling 31–30 amid disputed calls. Thurston’s move to halfback led to impressive results, with eight wins from ten games. His final statistics for the 2014 NRL season included participation in 24 matches, scoring 11 tries, kicking 93 goals, and adding four field goals.

At the Dally M Awards held on 29 September 2014, Thurston shared the Player of the Year title with Parramatta Eels captain Jarryd Hayne—marking his third time receiving this honor. Additionally, he was awarded Five-eighth of the Year and received the Provan-Summons Medal. Due to a shoulder injury, Thurston was unable to participate in Australia’s Four Nations campaign that year.

2015

On 13 February 2015, Thurston took the halfback position for the Indigenous All Stars during the 2015 All Stars match held at Cbus Super Stadium, where the Indigenous team triumphed 20–6 over the NRL All Stars. After beginning the season with three consecutive defeats, the North Queensland Cowboys bounced back dramatically in round 4 by defeating the Melbourne Storm, initiating a club-record winning streak of 11 games. Throughout this successful run, Thurston was awarded several Man of the Match honors.

For the 2015 Anzac Test, Thurston was chosen to play five-eighth for Australia against New Zealand, contributing two goals in the Kangaroos' 26–12 defeat. He also participated in all three fixtures of Queensland’s 2–1 victory in the 2015 State of Origin series.

At the 2015 Dally M Awards on 28 September, Thurston claimed the Dally M Player of the Year title by an unprecedented margin of 11 points. Additionally, he earned Dally M Halfback of the Year and, alongside co-captain Matthew Scott, received Dally M Captain of the Year honors.

During the 2015 NRL Grand Final against the Brisbane Broncos, Thurston missed a late conversion attempt that would have secured victory in regular time, sending the match into golden point extra time. After winning the coin toss and opting to kick, following a knock-on by Ben Hunt, Thurston clinched the Cowboys’ inaugural premiership with an 82nd-minute field goal and was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as man-of-the-match.

Thurston completed the season having played 24 games, scoring four tries along with 93 goals and six field goals. On 20 November, he received his third Golden Boot Award. Later, on 15 December, he was named halfback and captain for the Indigenous All Stars squad set to face the newly formed World All Stars on 13 February 2016.

2016

On 22 February 2016, Thurston featured as halfback for North Queensland Cowboys in the 2016 World Club Challenge against Super League champions Leeds, scoring a try and successfully kicking five goals in a commanding 36–4 win. His performance earned him man of the match recognition and the Graham Murray Medal. In Round 7 at 1300SMILES Stadium, Thurston reached a milestone of 1000 points with a conversion against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, helping secure a 44–18 victory. On 6 May, he represented Australia at five-eighth against New Zealand, kicking a goal during a 16–0 triumph at Hunter Stadium.

In Round 11 versus rivals Brisbane Broncos, Thurston marked his 250th club appearance with a crucial field goal that sealed a narrow 19–18 win and earned him man of the match accolades. Later that year, he announced his intention to retire following the conclusion of the 2018 season.

At the 2016 Dally M Awards, Thurston was nominated for Captain of the Year, Representative of the Year, Halfback of the Year, and Provan Summons Medalist categories; he finished tied for second place in Player of the Year voting with a total of 22 points.

Shortly after the NRL Grand Final, Thurston was included in Australia's 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations tournament. He participated in a warm-up victory over New Zealand on 15 October and played a key role in Australia’s commanding 34–8 final win against New Zealand by starting at five-eighth and converting five goals. Thurston ended as top point scorer of the tournament with 32 points across three matches.

2017

Throughout 2017, Thurston faced ongoing injury challenges. In round 6 of the 2017 NRL season, he incurred a calf injury during the Cowboys' 16–26 defeat against the Tigers but managed to recover in time to represent Australia in the 2017 ANZAC Test. However, he then suffered a shoulder injury during the Test match, which sidelined him for eight weeks. He missed the first game of the 2017 State of Origin series but made his comeback in round 14, contributing to a 32–6 victory over the Eels.

Although his participation in game 2 was initially uncertain, Thurston was included in the squad and played a crucial role in Queensland’s narrow win, scoring the decisive points despite aggravating his shoulder injury. This setback prematurely ended his 2017 season, causing him to miss his landmark 300th NRL appearance, the third and final State of Origin match (his last Origin game), the Cowboys' loss in the 2017 NRL Grand Final, and the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Following Queensland’s 22–6 triumph in Game 3 of State of Origin, captain Cameron Smith invited Thurston to jointly raise the Origin Shield as a tribute to his contributions throughout his Origin career.

2018

Thurston resumed playing for the Cowboys in the 2018 season, marking his 300th career game in Round 1 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Despite high hopes after their Grand Final appearance and Thurston stepping away from representative duties, the Cowboys concluded the season in 13th place and failed to qualify for the finals.

His final appearance was notable for an impressive display during a closely contested 30–26 victory over the Gold Coast Titans.

Post playing

Upon retiring in 2018, Thurston established the Johnathan Thurston Academy (JTAcademy), where he currently holds the position of Managing Director. The academy aims to empower Australian youth by offering access to educational and vocational opportunities that facilitate meaningful employment pathways.

In August 2024, Thurston was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame as member number 121, part of an eleven-player induction class.

In April 2025, following a round six match, Thurston was involved in a public verbal confrontation with Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu. Leniu later disclosed that he avoided engaging with Thurston despite being approached twice.

Individual

This section summarizes Thurston’s key individual honors.

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: 2012–2014
Dally M Captain of the Year: 2015
RLPA Player of the Year: 2005, 2013–2015
RLPA Halfback of the Year: 2018
RLPA Indigenous Leadership & Excellence Award: 2018
RLIF International Back of the Year: 2007
RLIF Halfback of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2015
Rugby League World Golden Boot Award: 2011, 2013, 2015
Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 2007
Indigenous Halfback of the Century (1908–2007)
North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2005, 2012, 2014, 2015
Players' Player of the Year (Cowboys): 2011, 2014
Provan-Summons Medal (fan-voted): 2014, 2015
Clive Churchill Medal (NRL Grand Final MVP): 2015
Alan Clarkson Trophy (finals MVP): 2015
Graham Murray Medal (World Club Challenge MVP): 2016
Arthur Beetson Medal: 2017
Wally Lewis Medal (State of Origin series MVP): 2008
Ron McAuliffe Medal (Queensland State of Origin MVP): 2012
Preston Campbell Medal (All Stars Match MVP): 2010, 2017
Ken Stephen Medal (community contribution): 2012
Australian Representative Player of the Year: 2014
Man of the Match in all four games played during Rugby League World Cup (2013)
State of Origin Man of the Match awards: Five; holds record for most consecutive appearances played (36 from 2005 to 2016); all-time leading point scorer
Highest point scorer ever in Australian test matches
Townsville Bulletin Fan Choice Award recipient: 2014, 2015

In recognition of his contributions, Thurston was granted life membership by North Queensland Cowboys in 2014.

He received Philips Sports Dad of the Year honors twice—in both 2015 and again in 2018.

In addition to these accolades, Big League Magazine named him Player of the Year and selected him as Halfback in their Team of the Year for 2015.

That same year saw him awarded Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports Golden Kenny trophy as Australian Sports Star of the Year.

Also in 2015, James Cook University conferred upon him an honorary Doctorate of Letters acknowledging his exceptional service to northern Queensland.

During the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2019, Thurston was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia, recognizing his significant contributions to rugby league and his role model status.

In 2023, he earned induction into the prestigious Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Team

NRL Grand Final Appearances
Year	Club	Opponent	Location	Final Score	Outcome
2004	Canterbury-Bankstown	Sydney	Telstra Stadium	16–13	Victory
2005	North Queensland	Wests Tigers	Telstra Stadium	16–30	Runner-up
2015	North Queensland	Brisbane	ANZ Stadium	17–16	Victory

World Club Challenge
Year	Club	Opponent	Location	Scoreline	Result
2016	North Queensland	Leeds	Headingley Stadium	38–4	Victory

Rugby League World Cup Finals
Year	Team	Opposition	Venue	Scoreline	Result
2008	Australia	New Zealand	Suncorp Stadium	20–34	Runner-up
2013	Australia	New Zealand	Old Trafford	34–2	Victory

Records

Highest number of Dally M Medal wins: 4 (2005, 2007, 2014, 2015)
Most Golden Boot Awards earned: 3 (2011, 2013, 2015)
Top recipient of RLPA Players' Player Medals: 4 (2005, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Leading point scorer for the Australian test side: 334 (2006–2017)
Record holder for most goals in Australian test matches: 143 (2006–2017)
Longest streak of consecutive appearances in the State of Origin series: 36 (2005–2017)
All-time highest points scorer in State of Origin history: 224 (2005–2017)
Most goals kicked in State of Origin contests: 101 (2005–2017)
Most North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year honours: 4 (2005, 2012, 2014, 2015)

NRL

Data accurate through the conclusion of the 2018 season

†	Indicates seasons where the player secured an NRL Premiership

Year	Club	Games Played	Tries	Goals	Goal %	Field Goals	Points Scored	Wins	Losses	Draws	Win Percentage
2002	Template:Leagueicon Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	7	2	0	—	0	8	5	2	0	71.4
2003		15	4	0	—	0	16	9	6	0	60.0
2004†		7	4	0	0.0	0	16	6	1	0	85.7
2005	Template:Leagueicon North Queensland Cowboys	26	5	28	77.8	2	78	15	11	0	57.7
2006		17	11	49	77.8	0	142	9	8	0	52.9
2007		25	10	78	80.4	0	196	17	8	0	68.0
2008		17	4	39	78.0	0	94	4	13	0	23.5
2009		23	11	79	79.8	0	202	10	13	0	43.5
2010		17	2	43	86.0	1	95	3	14	0	17.6
2011		19	10	61	77.2	0	162	11	8	0	57.9
2012		24	3	90	82.6	0	192	15	9	0	62.5
scope="row" style =" text- align : center ; font- weight : normal " > 2013		22	2	71	75.5	1	151	12	10	0	54.5
scope =" row " style =" text- align : center ; font- weight : normal " > 2014		24	11	93	76.9	4	234	15	9	0	62.5
scope =" row " style =" text- align : center ; font- weight : normal ; background:#afe6ba;" > 2015†		25	4	93	78.1	6	208	18	7	0	72.0
scope =" row " style =" text- align : center ; font- weight : normal " > 2016		24	2	96	84.2	1	201	16	8	0	66.7
scope =" row " style =" text- align : center ; font- weight : normal " > 2017		7	2	26	83.9	1	61	5	2	0	71.4
scope =" row " style =" text- align : center ; font- weight : normal " > 2018		24	3	77	77.8	0	166	8	16	0	33.3
colspan = "2 " > Career Totals	323	90	923	79.46%	16	2222	178	145	0	55.1%

All Star

†	Indicates the seasons Thurston secured a victory in an All Stars Match

Year	Team	Appearances	Tries	Goals	Goal Kick %	Points	Wins	Losses	Win-Loss %
2010†	Indigenous All Stars	1	0	2	100	4	1	0	100
2011		1	0	1	100	2	0	1	0
2012		1	0	3	75	6	0	1	0
2013†		1	0	3	75	6	1	0	100
2015†		1	0	4	100	8	1	0	100
2017†		1	1	4	80	12	1	0	100
Aggregate career statistics		6	1	17	88.3	38	4	2	66.6

State of Origin

†	Marks the seasons Thurston achieved a State of Origin series championship

Year	Team	Games Played	Tries Scored	Goals Kicked	Goal Kick Accuracy %	Field Goals per Game	Total Points	Wins Recorded	Losses Recorded	Draws Recorded	Win-Loss Ratio %
2005	Template:Leagueicon Queensland	3	1	0	—	1	5	1	2	0	33.3
3		0	7	77.8	0	14	2	1	0	66.7
2007†		3	0	5	71.4	1	11	2	1	0	66.7
3		0	10	76.9	0	20	2	1	0	66.7
2009†		3	1	10	83.3	0	24	2	1	0	66.7
3		0	12	85.7	0	24	3	0	0	100
2011†		3	1	8	80.0	0	16	2	1	0	66.7
3		1	9	90.0	0	22	2	1	0	66.7
2013†		3	1	7	77.8	0	18	2	1	0	66.7
3		0	8	80.0	0	16	1	2	0	=33.3
2015†		3	=0	=13	=81.3	=0	=26	=2	=1	=0	=66.7
3		=0	=7	=63.7	=0	=14	=2	=1	=0	=66.7
1		=0	=3	=100	=0	=6	=1	=0	=0	=100
Career summary		37 !5 !99 !80 !2 !220 !24 !13 !0 !66.68

International

Season	Team	Matches	Tries	Goals	Goal Kick %	Field Goals per Game	Points	Wins	Losses	Draws	Win-Loss %
2006	Template:Leagueicon Australia	5	0	17	85.00	0	34	5	0	0	100
2007		1	0	5	83.3	0	10	1	0	0	100
2008		5	3	23	71.9	0	58	4	1	0	80.0
2009		5	3	22	73.3	0	56	4	0	1	80.0
2010		0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011		6	3	28	77.8	0	68	6	0	0	100
2012		2	1	7	87.5	0	18	2	0	0	100
2013†		6	2	33	78.6	0	74	6	0	0	100
2014		1	0	5	100	0	10	1	0	0	100
2015		1	0	2	100	0	4	0	1	0	0
2016		5	1	18	66.7	0	40	5	0	0	100
2017		1	0	3	60	0	6	1	0	0	100
Career totals		38 !13 !168 !78.2 !0 !388 !36 !2 !1 !92.31

Personal life

In the year of 2006, Thurston was shortlisted as a finalist in Cleo magazine’s Most Eligible Bachelors.

Tragically, in October of 2008, his uncle Richard Saunders was fatally attacked in Brisbane; this incident resulted in eight individuals being sentenced to imprisonment.

Thurston possesses ownership stakes in Collings Aviation Holdings, the company that purchased Cairns-based airline Skytrans in March of 2015 following its entry into administration.

Since the year of 2008, Thurston has maintained a relationship with Samantha Lynch; together they have four daughters born between June of 2013 and February of 2019. The couple exchanged vows privately on Hamilton Island in November of 2015.

As a devoted Catholic, Thurston once offered complimentary air travel to a priest so that Mass could be conducted within a remote Aboriginal community.

In the year of 2022, he lent his voice for a cameo on the Australian children’s television series Bluey, providing sideline commentary during a fictional State of Origin contest between Queensland and New South Wales.

Community work

Toward the end of 2005, Thurston was one of thirteen NRL players featured in the League of Their Own calendar for the year of 2006, inspired by the Dieux du Stade collection, aimed at raising funds for the Koori Kids foundation. He was prominently displayed on the cover of this calendar. Thurston has been an active advocate for Indigenous populations in North Queensland and has partnered with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. Renowned for his generosity on the field, he regularly offers his kicking tee to ballboys after executing place kicks and donates his headgear to young supporters following matches. In December of 2017, Thurston was honored with the Australian Human Rights Commission Medal in recognition of his contributions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Additionally, he received the Queenslander of the Year accolade in that same year and was shortlisted for the Australian of the Year award in early 2018.

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