HARRY GETS HIS KICKS

WHEN rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston puts in a towering kick, it’s enough to make even the game’s greatest fullbacks sweat but for council hopeful Harry Patel, it’s an opportunity to be part of history.

He was sitting in the northern stand at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday night when JT kicked the venue’s first ever goal. And it’s the second time the Division 7 council candidate ( pictured) has taken a crowd catch off his boot.

And this time, it was a matter of saving a complete stranger beside him.

“The lady sitting next to me was frightened the ball would hit her,” he said.

“I said don’t be frightened, I will catch it. “He kicked the ball, I stood up and I just caught it – it came straight toward her, I caught the ball and ev everybody b d b behind hi d me just cheered.”

With no rugby league training, Mr Patel says he modelled the catch off watching the Cowboys do it week in, week out.

And he’s no stranger to the crowd catch spotlight, having taken one about five years ago, also against the Broncos, and also off JT’S boot, at the old stadium.

The 68-year-old retiree and part-time nurse believes the experience was the perfect opportunity to show his passion and love for the game, and never doubted his ability to make the grab.

“I am a senior citizen, I’m 68, so I’m not a young man but I’m fit,” Mr Patel said.

“Johnathan swirls it around, and the problem (is) with catching it on a swirl … but when I caught it I thought it was so easy. It was as if I was playing football, I felt like I was there and part of the team.”