SEVEN MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MAN

Breaking down the No 7’s brilliant career ahead of Thurston’s rugby league retirement today.

2004 NRL grand final

Having just signed a deal to head to North Queensland, a 21-year-old Thurston had been added to the Bulldogs’ bench to replace injured captain Steve Price. Following the Bulldogs’ 16-13 win the young playmaker headed straight for his captain and selflessly offered up his premiership ring. It would be 11 years before Thurston had another.

2005 Cowboys arrival

It didn’t take long for Thurston to have an impact at his new club, relishing the opportunity to pilot the Cowboys all the way to their first NRL decider, against the Wests Tigers. Thurston pipped Andrew Johns to win his first of four Dally M Player of the year awards and, while denied a title by some Benji Marshall brilliance, the Townsville faithful knew they had something special on their hands.

2005 Origin debut

There were no first-game flutters with the match on the line when Thurston slotted a field goal to take the game to extra time in his Origin debut. Cowboys teammate Matt Bowen then scored an intercept try to ensure Thurston’s first of a record 36-straight Origin appearances was a happy one.

2006 representative season

It didn’t take long for Thurston to make himself comfortable at representative level. Everyone recalls Darren Lockyer’s opportune intercept try that stole Origin III that year, but it was Thurston’s trademark show-and-go that set up Brent Tate’s longrange try and gave the Maroons a sniff. He was at it again in the Tri-Nations final, reverting again to his famous move in extra time and set up Lockyer for the matchwinner.

2013 Penrith move

Thurston thought he was on the way to the Panthers on a rich three-year deal, until he got home and told his future wife. It was Samantha, pregnant with the first of their three children, that put a stop to Thurston linking with ‘‘Gus’’ Gould, telling him he would be living by himself if he chose to head south.

2015 NRL grand final

It seemed destined to be dramatic, but nobody could have predicted just how the Cowboys’ maiden NRL title would unfold. A last-gasp try from nowhere gave Thurston a kick to win it, which hit the post and bounced away. It made his match-winning golden point field goal even sweeter though, with a title and Clive Churchill Medal giving him almost every rugby league honour in a perfect year.

2017 State of Origin II

A first-half shoulder injury was serious enough to end his season, but not enough to get him off the park in what would be Thurston’s final Origin.

And he signed off in trademark fashion despite being in obvious discomfort, burying the Blues once again with a matchwinning goal from a tight angle that equalled a series the Maroons would go on to clinch.