Johnathan Thurston

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Monday, 25th April, 1983
Current Age
40 years and 330 days
Place Of Birth
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Halfback Of The Year
2005, 2007, 2009, 2015
Dally M Player Of The Year
2005, 2007, 2014, 2015
RLPA Player of the Year
2005, 2013, 2014, 2015
RLIF Back Of The Year
2007
RLW Player of the Year
2007
Wally Lewis Medal
2008
RLIF Halfback Of The Year
2009
Golden Boot Award
2011, 2013, 2015
Dally M Five-Eighth Of The Year
2012, 2013, 2014
Ken Stephen Medal
2012
RLIF Five-Eighth Of The Year
2012
Harry Sunderland Medal
2013
Provan Summons Medal
2014, 2015
Clive Churchill Medal
2015
Dally M Captain Of The Year
2015

Biography

Former Junior Kangaroo captain, originally from Toowoomba (Queensland), first came under notice when he landed the winning goal for the Bulldogs in the 2002 First Division grand final. Thurston had a great season in 2003 as the club sought to avenge the stripping of its competition points when it headed the premiership table the previous year. The Bulldogs fell short in 2003 and Thurston had an injury-ridden year when the club mounted its 2004 grand final campaign. Electing to sign with the North Queensland North Queensland for 2005 he was only called onto the Bulldogs’ interchange bench for the grand final following the withdrawal of injured captain Steve Price (following the Bulldog’s 16-13 win Thurston offered his premiership ring to Price who declined the offer.) It was no coincidence that Thurston’s arrival in Townsville culminated in the North Queensland qualifying for the grand final – after making his State of Origin debut at halfback in 2005 the wiry pivot was named ‘Dally M’ Player of the Year after galvanising the North Queensland’ attack during the season. Thurston made his Test debut in Australia’s 50-12 win over NZ in Brisbane in May 2006 – coming off the interchange in deference to captain Darren Lockyer and veteran Andrew Johns, who was playing in his final Test – and following Queensland’s State of Origin success that year he appeared in four Tests at the end of the year, including Australia’s Tri-Nations final win over NZ.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 323 90 923   16 2222 178 145 0 55.11% List
NRL Finals 22 6 59   3 145 12 10 0 54.55% List
State of Origin 37 5 99   2 220 24 13 0 64.86% List
Anzac Tests 11 3 33   - 78 10 1 0 90.91% List
Australia PM XIII Annual 2 - 7   - 14 2 0 0 100.00% List
Tri-Nations 4 - 17   - 34 4 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 9 5 52   - 124 8 1 0 88.89% List
Four Nations 11 5 53   - 126 10 0 1 90.91% List
All Stars 6 1 17   - 38 4 2 0 66.67% List
World Club Challenge 1 1 5   - 14 1 0 0 100.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 2006-09, 2011-17 38 13 165   - 382 35 2 1 92.11% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 2006-2013 9 5 52   - 124 8 1 0 88.89% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD 2005-17 37 5 99   2 220 24 13 0 64.86% List
Indigenous 2010-13, 2015, 2017 6 1 17   - 38 4 2 0 66.67% List
Overall2005-2017 43 6 116   2 258 28 15 0 65.12% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Bulldogs NRL 2002 7 2 -   - 8 5 2 0 71.43% List
Bulldogs NRL 2003 15 4 -   - 16 9 6 0 60.00% List
Bulldogs NRL 2004 7 4 0 / 1 0.00% - 16 6 1 0 85.71% List
North QLD NRL 2005 26 5 28 / 36 77.78% 2 78 15 11 0 57.69% List
North QLD NRL 2006 17 11 49 / 63 77.78% - 142 9 8 0 52.94% List
North QLD NRL 2007 25 10 78 / 97 80.41% - 196 17 8 0 68.00% List
North QLD NRL 2008 17 4 39 / 50 78.00% - 94 4 13 0 23.53% List
North QLD NRL 2009 23 11 79 / 99 79.80% - 202 10 13 0 43.48% List
North QLD NRL 2010 17 2 43 / 50 86.00% 1 95 3 14 0 17.65% List
North QLD NRL 2011 19 10 61 / 79 77.22% - 162 11 8 0 57.89% List
North QLD NRL 2012 24 3 90 / 109 82.57% - 192 15 9 0 62.50% List
North QLD NRL 2013 22 2 71 / 94 75.53% 1 151 12 10 0 54.55% List
North QLD NRL 2014 24 11 93 / 121 76.86% 4 234 15 9 0 62.50% List
North QLD NRL 2015 25 4 93 / 119 78.15% 6 208 18 7 0 72.00% List
North QLD NRL 2016 24 2 96 / 114 84.21% 1 201 16 8 0 66.67% List
North QLD NRL 2017 7 2 26 / 30 86.67% 1 61 5 2 0 71.43% List
North QLD NRL 2018 24 3 77 / 99 77.78% - 166 8 16 0 33.33% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Bulldogs 2002-04 29 10 - / 1 0.00% - 40 20 9 0 68.97% List
North QLD 2005-18 294 80 923 / 1160 79.57% 16 2182 158 136 0 53.74% List
Overall2002-2018 323 90 923 / 1161 79.50% 16 2,222 178 145 0 55.11% List

Your Say

  • Guy
    28/09/2012

    The best rugby league player we will see in a long time, champion!

  • Thane
    16/07/2015

    One of the best players still going in the game!

  • Anthony Cerruto
    20/10/2016

    Absolute brilliant rugby league player. Wally Lewis was the greatest most gifted player in his era without a doubt but my opinion is that JT is no doubt the greatest in the present era.Such a likeable bloke also Both Superstars of the greatest game.

  • ElleN
    31/03/2017

    Stunning player, husband, father, sportsman & roll model for nrl and Australia.

  • Diego
    26/06/2017

    The best to ever lace the boots

  • Anonymous
    22/12/2017

    Johnathan Thurston is the best player ever and he is my absolute favourite player.

  • Tianna Percy
    01/02/2018

    He is a great person and everyone looks up to him. Good on ya mate.

  • Anonymous
    08/08/2018

    Greatest footballer to ever play the game stats prove it and equally the same of the field true legend

  • CHARMY
    25/03/2019

    ONE OF THE BEST MOST INTERESTING PLAYERS TO WATCH.
    I WILL MISS WATCHING U PLAY.

  • Barnesy
    27/03/2019

    He is by far the best player I have ever seen run around on that football field.

  • Jett Austin
    11/06/2019

    One of the best players in history. Shame he doesnt play anymore.

  • Brock
    04/09/2019

    Awesome player, second only to Cameron Smith obviously. JT was the best player in a average team. Wally, Smith, Johns were the best players in teams full of immortals.

  • william herbert
    04/11/2019

    best player to ever play the game no doubt.

  • Mick
    27/12/2019

    Massively overrated. Couldn’t tackle a tackling bag.

  • Anonymous
    20/05/2020

    Great player. Will always be behind Joey Johns though

  • Damo
    16/07/2020

    Absolute legend and an awesome role model chur

  • Volkaino
    30/07/2020

    Best Ever Player...................EVER

  • Stamps
    19/09/2020

    2015 will be remembered as one of the greatest grand final!

  • Massive
    29/10/2020

    A great player that many people look up to because of his game on and off the field.

  • Chris Thomas
    03/05/2021

    Second best halfback of all time after Andrew Johns

  • Mick
    18/05/2021

    Most dominate and consistent player for such a long time absolute freak the goat

  • Anonymous
    03/05/2023

    cool

  • Noah Kowalik
    01/02/2024

    Jonathon Thurston is the Goat!!!

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, Max Turner, Darren Andrews

Sources: NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2003, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2004, NRL 2004 Official Rugby League Annual, 2006 Official Rugby League Annual