Unfinished business stopped Thurston switching codes
TOWNSVILLE: It was a ‘‘sliding doors’’ moment that could have changed everything.
But future Immortal Johnathan Thurston has no regrets after revealing he considered bigmoney overseas rugby union offers before remaining loyal to NRL club North Queensland in 2010.
Thurston (35) will run out in his final home game for his beloved Cowboys in Friday night’s clash against Parramatta in Townsville as he draws the curtain on his glittering NRL career.
However, Thurston admitted his 14season stint at North Queensland was almost cut short by cashed up deals from rugby clubs in Japan and France during a turbulent time in his career eight years ago.
That period included an arrest in Brisbane for public nuisance.
However, ‘‘unfinished business’’ kept him in Townsville to focus on winning the Cowboys’ maiden NRL title, a feat they achieved in 2015.
‘‘That [rugby offers] came at a time in my life that was pretty rough here,’’ fourtime Dally M Medallist Thurston said.
‘‘But there was unfinished business for me.
‘‘I always wanted to bring a premiership to North Queensland so to be able to do that is probably the best memory I have got wearing the North Queensland jersey.’’
Told of Thurston’s rugby revelation, Cowboys coach Paul Green was at first relieved his prized playmaker stayed loyal before expressing amusement over the possible code switch.
‘‘Obviously we are pleased he didn’t [go]. You only have to look at our history from 2010,’’ Green, who took over the Cowboys reins in 2014, said.
‘‘But it would have been interesting to see him play rugby. I am not sure how long he would have lasted.’’
Threetime Golden Boot winner Thurston said the ‘‘competitive streak’’ was still firing before the Eels match as he tried to keep his emotions in check yesterday.
Asked if the the 2019 All Stars match appealed given the concept will feature an Indigenous side taking on New Zealand Maori in Melbourne, Thurston was emphatic.
‘‘I am done and dusted, mate. Next Saturday will be my last game,’’ he said.
Besides Thurston’s Townsville farewell, the Eels clash will also be cocaptain Matt Scott’s 250th NRL game and hooker Jake Granville’s 100th for the club.
A win will also help North Queensland avoid the wooden spoon.
Thurston reckoned it would not be hard to keep a lid on emotions on Friday night.
‘‘We have enough experienced blokes here to make sure we do that,’’ he said. — AAp