Meet JT when he’s at Empire
WHEN rugby league great Johnathan Thurston played his final game earlier this year, there was hardly a dry eye left in the country.
The outpouring of love and good wishes is testament to man who stood above all others on the field and off, positioning himself as an inspiration to countless Australians.
As he prepares to head off on a speaking tour around the state, fans and the community will be able to gain a rare insight into the man with An Evening with Johnathan Thurston when it comes to Toowoomba on November 11.
And lucky for you, we’re giving 10 lucky fans in Toowoomba the chance to win double passes to An Evening With Johnathan Thurston, with a meet and greet after the show when it comes to the Empire Theatre All you need to do to enter is head to www.thechronicle. com.au/competitions.
The events will be a chance to hear a whole library of stories from the man himself, including many things you probably didn’t know about Johnathon Thurston.
Here’s a few things you might learn about the man they call JT if you’re lucky enough to head along.
● JT is the third highest-scoring NRL player in history by points with 2222. He amassed this tally over his glittering 16year career, and sits behind only Hazem El Mazri and Cameron Smith.
● In 2006, JT was named Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year. This came soon after a scorching hot Thurston featured on the front cover of the League of Their Own calendar. He wasn’t single for much longer. Since 2008, Thurston has been in a relationship with Samantha Lynch and the two have three young girls, with another baby on the way due in February 2019.
● JT was born in Brisbane in 1983 and began his rugby league career playing juniors at Souths Sunnybank RLFC. He first signed with Canterbury Bulldogs in 2001 to begin his NRL career the next season. Astonishingly JT was signed for a “nil playing fee”, a far cry from the $1 million a season he’d end up earning as a bona fide superstar of the game toward the end of his career.
● After three years with the Bulldogs, Thurston moved to the North Queensland Cowboys in 2005, a major turning point in his career. Later that season he was selected for Queensland and won the first of his four Dally M Player of the Year awards.
● Thurston played 13 State of Origin series for Queensland, only losing two.
● Always one to be a source of inspiration and positivity, Thurston set up the Johnathan Thurston Academy, a leading national provider of outstanding employment initiatives and training programs aimed at health, wellbeing, sport and education across Australia.
An Evening with Johnathan Thurston is a golden opportunity to hear JT live on stage talking in depth about his life, career and culture.
To win a double pass for yourself, simply go to www.thechronicle.com.au/ competitions, but hurry, the competition closes on October
7. Don’t want to miss out? Grab your tickets at majoreventscompany.com.au/shows.