Crying shame the end is all too near
LONG before he was rugby league’s man of steel Johnathan Thurston was a little boy who cried … a lot.
Australian captain Cameron Smith knows this from the first time the two rugby league greats faced off in an under-10s match in Logan.
“My club Logan Brothers played against (Thurston’s) Sunnybank,’’ Smith said.
“We won and my first memory of Johnno and how competitive he is came when he threw an intercept pass and we scored.
“I can still see him sitting at the other end of the field having a little cry about his pass.
“He hasn’t changed too much. He is still a sook.’’
Thurston does not deny the pass nor the tears and laughs along with Smith at the memory.
“Yeah, I can remember that … it happened quite a few times. I used to drop my bundle and cry,’’ he said.
Twenty five years after their first clash, the boy who cried and the other boy who saw him will lead out the North Queensland Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium in a testimonial match on February 23 which will honour the careers of the legendary duo.
The concept of well-paid players benefiting from a testimonial game is a touchy one with some fans but the proceeds will be shared with designated charities.
Smith helps Ovarian Cancer Australia and the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Thurston nominates the Cowboys House which assists the education of young indigenous boys from remote areas.
The match, announced yesterday by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will be no frolic because Thurston and Smith have no cruising gear.
When they play each other in club games the competitive edge is sharp yet there is the occasional, isolated moment when their friendship pokes through.
“We always say hello to each other on the field or give each other a wink,’’ Thurston said.