Perfect partners
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 league field for the very first time.
Ahead of what could be his last every match against Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston has revealed arguably the greatest rugby league rivalry/ partnership was born on a suburban Brisbane field before they had even hit puberty.
“I first met Smitty when I was a kid,’’ said Thurston, who will release his autobiography JT later this year, said.
“I had just made a Brisbane 14s 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.
Most know that Thurston and Smith are mates. Few know about the three-hour Face Time calls and holidays. Or that they have drafted a post-retirement “bucket list’’.
“They are BFFS,’’ said Thurston’s wife Sam.
“I sometimes think I am the other person in JT’s life. Through their friendship I have become great mates with Cam’s wife and their kids. We are planning a 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.”