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Johnathan Thurston

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Born
Monday, 25th April, 1983
Current Age
43 years and 46 days
Place Of Birth
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Competitions Won

Anzac Tests
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017
Tri-Nations
2006
World Cup
2013
Four Nations
2009, 2011, 2016
State of Origin
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
NRL Premiership
2004, 2015
All Stars
2010, 2013, 2015, 2017
NSW Reserve Grade
2002

Honours & Awards

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
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2024

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

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

Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 37 1 38 13-13 165     - - 382 - 1 - 35 2 1 92.11% List
Anzac Tests 6 10 1 11 3-3 33     - - 78 - - - 10 1 - 90.91% List
Tri-Nations 1 4 - 4 --- 17 / 20 85.00% - - 34 - - - 4 - - 100.00% List
World Cup 1 9 - 9 5-5 52 / 69 75.36% - - 124 - - - 8 1 - 88.89% List
Four Nations 3 11 - 11 5-5 53 / 68 77.94% - - 126 - 1 - 10 - 1 90.91% List
Australia PM XIII Annual - 2 - 2 --- 7 / 7 100.00% - - 14 - - - 2 - - 100.00% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
State of Origin 11 37 - 37 5-5 99 / 124 79.84% 2 2 220 - - - 24 13 - 64.86% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NRL Premiership 2 311 12 323 90-90 923 / 1,161 79.50% 16 16 2,222 - 4 - 178 145 - 55.11% List
NRL Finals - 20 2 22 6-6 59 / 72 81.94% 3 3 145 - - - 12 10 - 54.55% List
Club Career - UK   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
World Club Challenge - 1 - 1 1-1 5 / 7 71.43% - - 14 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Other   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
All Stars 4 6 - 6 1-1 17 / 20 85.00% - - 38 - - - 4 2 - 66.67% List
NSW Reserve Grade 1 1 - 1 2-2 4     - - 16 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  392 13 405 110-110 1,209     18 18 2,876 - 5 - 242 162 1 59.75% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 2006-09, 2011-17   37 1 38 13-13 165     - - 382 - 1 - 35 2 1 92.11% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 2006-2013   9 - 9 5-5 52     - - 124 - - - 8 1 - 88.89% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
QLD 2005-17   37 - 37 5-5 99 / 124 79.84% 2 2 220 - - - 24 13 - 64.86% List
Indigenous 2010-13, 2015, 2017   6 - 6 1-1 17 / 20 85.00% - - 38 - - - 4 2 - 66.67% List

NRL Premiership - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
BulldogsBulldogs 20022002 Telstra NRL Premiership   3 4 72-2 -     - - 8 - 1 - 5 2 - 71.43% List
BulldogsBulldogs 20032003 Telstra NRL Premiership   9 6 154-4 -     - - 16 - - - 9 6 - 60.00% List
BulldogsBulldogs 20042004 Telstra NRL Premiership   5 2 74-4 0 / 1 0.00% - - 16 - - - 6 1 - 85.71% List
North QldNorth Qld 20052005 Telstra NRL Premiership   26 - 265-5 28 / 36 77.78% 2 2 78 - - - 15 11 - 57.69% List
North QldNorth Qld 20062006 Telstra NRL Premiership   17 - 1711-11 49 / 63 77.78% - - 142 - - - 9 8 - 52.94% List
North QldNorth Qld 20072007 Telstra NRL Premiership   25 - 2510-10 78 / 97 80.41% - - 196 - 2 - 17 8 - 68.00% List
North QldNorth Qld 20082008 Telstra NRL Premiership   17 - 174-4 39 / 50 78.00% - - 94 - - - 4 13 - 23.53% List
North QldNorth Qld 20092009 Telstra NRL Premiership   23 - 2311-11 79 / 99 79.80% - - 202 - - - 10 13 - 43.48% List
North QldNorth Qld 20102010 Telstra NRL Premiership   17 - 172-2 43 / 50 86.00% 1 1 95 - - - 3 14 - 17.65% List
North QldNorth Qld 20112011 Telstra NRL Premiership   19 - 1910-10 61 / 79 77.22% - - 162 - - - 11 8 - 57.89% List
North QldNorth Qld 20122012 Telstra NRL Premiership   24 - 243-3 90 / 109 82.57% - - 192 - 1 - 15 9 - 62.50% List
North QldNorth Qld 20132013 Telstra NRL Premiership   22 - 222-2 71 / 94 75.53% 1 1 151 - - - 12 10 - 54.55% List
North QldNorth Qld 20142014 Telstra NRL Premiership   24 - 2411-11 93 / 121 76.86% 4 4 234 - - - 15 9 - 62.50% List
North QldNorth Qld 20152015 Telstra NRL Premiership   25 - 254-4 93 / 119 78.15% 6 6 208 - - - 18 7 - 72.00% List
North QldNorth Qld 20162016 Telstra NRL Premiership   24 - 242-2 96 / 114 84.21% 1 1 201 - - - 16 8 - 66.67% List
North QldNorth Qld 20172017 Telstra NRL Premiership   7 - 72-2 26 / 30 86.67% 1 1 61 - - - 5 2 - 71.43% List
North QldNorth Qld 20182018 Telstra NRL Premiership   24 - 243-3 77 / 99 77.78% - - 166 - - - 8 16 - 33.33% List

NRL Premiership - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Bulldogs 2002-04   17 12 29 10-10 - / 1 0.00% - - 40 - 1 - 20 9 - 68.97% List
North Qld 2005-18   294 - 294 80-80 923 / 1,160 79.57% 16 16 2,182 - 3 - 158 136 - 53.74% List

NSW/QLD Cup - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Bulldogs (R)Bulldogs (R) 20022002 NSWRL First Division   1 - 12-2 4     - - 16 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List

NSW/QLD Cup - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G   A GK % 1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Bulldogs (R) 2002   1 - 1 2-2 4     - - 16 - - - 1 - - 100.00% List

Your Say

  • Guy
    28 Sep 2012 1:14am

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

  • Thane
    16 Jul 2015 10:43am

    One of the best players still going in the game!

  • Anthony Cerruto
    20 Oct 2016 1:44pm

    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 Mar 2017 9:54pm

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

  • Diego
    26 Jun 2017 4:05pm

    The best to ever lace the boots

  • Anonymous
    22 Dec 2017 2:17pm

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

  • Tianna Percy
    1 Feb 2018 2:30pm

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

  • Anonymous
    8 Aug 2018 7:41pm

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

  • CHARMY
    25 Mar 2019 12:32pm

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

  • Barnesy
    27 Mar 2019 9:38am

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

  • Jett Austin
    11 Jun 2019 12:02pm

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

  • Brock
    4 Sep 2019 10:09am

    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
    4 Nov 2019 11:33am

    best player to ever play the game no doubt.

  • Anonymous
    20 May 2020 11:51am

    Great player. Will always be behind Joey Johns though

  • Damo
    16 Jul 2020 4:16pm

    Absolute legend and an awesome role model chur

  • Volkaino
    30 Jul 2020 6:03pm

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

  • Stamps
    19 Sep 2020 8:41pm

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

  • Massive
    29 Oct 2020 9:50pm

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

  • Chris Thomas
    3 May 2021 9:17pm

    Second best halfback of all time after Andrew Johns

  • Mick
    18 May 2021 9:53pm

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

  • Anonymous
    3 May 2023 1:47pm

    cool

  • Noah Kowalik
    1 Feb 2024 10:43am

    Jonathon Thurston is the Goat!!!

  • Dekay Senis
    19 Feb 2024 4:12pm

    The best player ever. He is the true G.O.A.T.

  • Kalyn ponga is better
    20 May 2025 11:00am

    jt is the goat :)

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

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), 2006 Official Rugby League Annual, Castleford Tigers Heritage , RFL Player Registers