LEAGUE: ASH LINES UP HIS IDOL IN THURSTON FAREWELL
ASH Taylor will put aside personal sentiment for 80 minutes on Saturday as he attempts to rain on the parade of the man he one day hopes to emulate.
Johnathan Thurston will play his final game against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday, lining up against Taylor – once a starry-eyed indigenous kid who hero-worshipped the Cowboys and Maroons great.
Regarded by most as an Immortal-in-waiting, it is not just an on-field legacy that Thurston will leave. The way he has conducted himself as a role model in the community has had just as much of an impact on Taylor as any move he has made for the Cowboys, Queensland or Australia.
“It’ll go down as one to remember, his last game – and hopefully we beat him in his last game,” Taylor said.
“That’s our goal, is to rain on his parade.
“But to look over his career, it’s been massive for himself and his family, and to be able to run out against him in his last game will be something to remember for a long time.”
As a kid growing up in country Queensland, Taylor was a Broncos fan who idolised Darren Lockyer.
But seeing Thurston position himself as a role model on an off the field – especially in the indigenous community – had a massive impact.
“It meant so much,” Taylor said. “He’s done a lot of great things over the years and that’s why he’s become a role model for my generation and the next generation coming through.
“He’ll go down as one of the best and to be able to play against him has just been a dream – and to play alongside him was even more of a dream.”
Taylor became the game’s latest million-dollar man last year when he signed a deal that keeps him on the Gold Coast until at least 2021.
But rather than splash out on flashy cars or wild spending sprees, the youngster hopes to form his own foundation to help players – especially indigenous youngsters – from western Queensland.
“I think everyone’s dream is to (have an impact like Thurston),” Taylor said.
The Titans will honour Thurston on Saturday – but after the match is finished.
“We’ve got to do our job first, that’s what every week has been about – the last few weeks has been about ourselves and making sure we play our best footy,” Taylor said.
HE’S DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS OVER THE YEARS AND THAT’S WHY HE’S BECOME A ROLE MODEL FOR MY GENERATION AND THE NEXT GENERATION COMING THROUGH. ASH TAYLOR ON THE GREAT JT