Give JT a nod: Wally
QUEENSLAND icon Wally Lewis says rugby league owes Johnathan Thurston the ultimate honour for 17 years of toil by crowning the Cowboys champion an NRL Immortal.
On the eve of Thurston’s farewell home game tonight against Parramatta in Townsville, Lewis says he would welcome the Maroons maestro into rugby league’s most select club with open arms.
Just 13 players in the code’s 110-year history have Immortal status, with five legends – Mal Meninga, Norm Provan, Frank Burge, Dally Messenger and Dave Brown – inducted three weeks ago.
The other eight Immortals are Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns and “The King” Lewis.
Broncos great Darren Lockyer and current NRL stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis all have claims to Immortal coronation, but Lewis says Thurston must not be overlooked.
“JT has to be an Immortal,” Lewis said. “Anyone who suggests he shouldn’t be an Immortal needs medical help. It’s only a matter of time.
“He has been the most inspirational player. Time and time again he has stepped up when big games hinge on his performance.
“I can’t see many reasons why he wouldn’t be there. The only thing that’s been questioned over the years is his defence, but his ability to be brilliant in attack and consistently come up with matchwinning plays puts him above others over the last 15 or 20 years.
“I guess it’s hard to rate whether JT is better than Smith or Slater or Inglis, but I just know he has to be an Immortal as soon as he qualifies for it.
“Locky will be ahead of JT because he retired earlier, but I can’t endorse Thurston enough to be an Immortal.”
Thurston, Smith, Slater and Inglis will not be eligible for the next Immortal induction in 2022 because they have not been retired from the game for five years.
That means Thurston must wait almost another decade to be considered.