Best mates forever As last dance looms, JT recalls meeting teen Smith
THE 13- year- old rugby league wannabe walked up to his new teammate and extended his hand.
“G’day,’’ he said. “I’m Johnny. What’s your name?’’
The goofy looking kid with the football smiled. “Cam,’’ he said. “But everyone calls me Smitty.’’
And with a handshake the pair walked on to a rugby league field for the first time.
Ahead of what could be his last match against Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston has revealed arguably the greatest ever rugby league rivalry/ partnerships was born on a suburban Brisbane rugby league field before they had even hit puberty.
“I first met Smitty when I was a kid,’’ said Thurston, whose autobiography JT will be released later this year.
“I had just made a Brisbane under 14’ s rep team and he was in the side. He was picked as the halfback and I was picked as the hooker. The rest is history.’’
And that history – 36 games as Queensland State of Origin teammates, 36 games as Kangaroos teammates and 23 matches as NRL rivals – could end tonight when the Cowboys take on the Storm in North Queensland.
After playing their first match together 22 years ago, the future Immortals will never play with or against each other again should the Cowboys fail to make the NRL finals.
“I haven’t even thought about that,’’ Thurston said.
“I am still hoping to around in September.’’
Most know that Thurston and Smith are mates. Few know about the three- hour be Face Time calls and family holidays. Or that they have drafted a post retirement “bucket list’’.
“They are BFFs,’’ said Thurston’s wife Samantha.
“They have been mates since they were 13 and they will be mates forever. I have become great mates with Cam’s wife and their kids. We are planning a family holiday with them at the end of the year.
“Cam actually sent me a message the day he announced his retirement. He apologised after telling me he was also taking JT on another trip to the Super Bowl. They have a bucket list that includes the Super Bowl.”
Still, Thurston was floored when Smith called to tell him he would never play another match for the Maroons.
“I didn’t expect it at all,’’ Thurston said. “I definitely thought he was going to go round again. I was actually rattled by it. I was really shaken up for a couple of days.”
Thurston and Smith drank a bottle of wine while reminiscing about their Maroon dynasty during the three hour Face Time call.
“We ended up grabbing a bottle of red each. We talked about the good times in that jersey. The achievements on the field and the fun times off the field. I guess we celebrated his achievements.’’
Thurston is still struggling to comprehend a State of Origin series without Smith. Debuting two years after Smith in 2005, Thurston won an unprecedented 11 series with his “BFF’’.
“I just can’t believe I won’t get to see him play for Queensland again.
“He is the heart and soul of the Queensland team. He has been part of that team since 2003. What he has done, well four Wally Lewis Medals, seven man of the matches, we won’t see that again.’’