Playing Career
Vital Statistics
- Born
- Monday, 25th April, 1983
- Current Age
- 41 years and 325 days
- Place Of Birth
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Honours & Awards
Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.
- Tri-Nations
- 2006
- World Cup
- 2013
- Four Nations
- 2009, 2011, 2016
- Anzac Tests
- 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017
- State of Origin
- 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
- NRL Premiership
- 2004, 2015
- All Stars
- 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017
- 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
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 | Comp Wins | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRL Premiership | 2 | 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 | 11 | 37 | 5 | 99 | 2 | 220 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 64.86% | List | ||||
| Anzac Tests | 6 | 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 | 1 | 4 | - | 17 | - | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| World Cup | 1 | 9 | 5 | 52 | - | 124 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 88.89% | List | ||||
| Four Nations | 3 | 11 | 5 | 53 | - | 126 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 90.91% | List | ||||
| All Stars | 4 | 6 | 1 | 17 | - | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
| World Club Challenge | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | - | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
| |||||||||||||||
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 | ||||
| |||||||||||||||
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 | ||||
| Overall | 2005-2017 | 43 | 6 | 116 | 2 | 258 | 28 | 15 | 0 | 65.12% | List | ||||
| |||||||||||||||
NRL Premiership - By Year | |||||||||||||||
| Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Bulldogs | 2002 NRL Telstra Premiership | 7 | 2 | - | - | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.43% | List | ||||
| Bulldogs | 2003 NRL Telstra Premiership | 15 | 4 | - | - | 16 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 60.00% | List | ||||
| Bulldogs | 2004 NRL Telstra Premiership | 7 | 4 | 0 | / | 1 | 0.00% | - | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.71% | List | |
| North Qld | 2005 NRL Telstra Premiership | 26 | 5 | 28 | / | 36 | 77.78% | 2 | 78 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 57.69% | List | |
| North Qld | 2006 NRL Telstra Premiership | 17 | 11 | 49 | / | 63 | 77.78% | - | 142 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 52.94% | List | |
| North Qld | 2007 NRL Telstra Premiership | 25 | 10 | 78 | / | 97 | 80.41% | - | 196 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 68.00% | List | |
| North Qld | 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership | 17 | 4 | 39 | / | 50 | 78.00% | - | 94 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 23.53% | List | |
| North Qld | 2009 NRL Telstra Premiership | 23 | 11 | 79 | / | 99 | 79.80% | - | 202 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 43.48% | List | |
| North Qld | 2010 NRL Telstra Premiership | 17 | 2 | 43 | / | 50 | 86.00% | 1 | 95 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17.65% | List | |
| North Qld | 2011 NRL Telstra Premiership | 19 | 10 | 61 | / | 79 | 77.22% | - | 162 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 57.89% | List | |
| North Qld | 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership | 24 | 3 | 90 | / | 109 | 82.57% | - | 192 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 62.50% | List | |
| North Qld | 2013 NRL Telstra Premiership | 22 | 2 | 71 | / | 94 | 75.53% | 1 | 151 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 54.55% | List | |
| North Qld | 2014 NRL Telstra Premiership | 24 | 11 | 93 | / | 121 | 76.86% | 4 | 234 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 62.50% | List | |
| North Qld | 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership | 25 | 4 | 93 | / | 119 | 78.15% | 6 | 208 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 72.00% | List | |
| North Qld | 2016 NRL Telstra Premiership | 24 | 2 | 96 | / | 114 | 84.21% | 1 | 201 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |
| North Qld | 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership | 7 | 2 | 26 | / | 30 | 86.67% | 1 | 61 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.43% | List | |
| North Qld | 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership | 24 | 3 | 77 | / | 99 | 77.78% | - | 166 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 33.33% | List | |
NRL Premiership - 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 | |
| Overall | 2002-2018 | 323 | 90 | 923 | / | 1161 | 79.50% | 16 | 2,222 | 178 | 145 | 0 | 55.11% | List | |
Contributions:
Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Tony McCarron, Bill Bates, Darren Andrews
Sources:
David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), 2006 Official Rugby League Annual
Your Say
28/09/2012
The best rugby league player we will see in a long time, champion!
16/07/2015
One of the best players still going in the game!
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.
31/03/2017
Stunning player, husband, father, sportsman & roll model for nrl and Australia.
26/06/2017
The best to ever lace the boots
22/12/2017
Johnathan Thurston is the best player ever and he is my absolute favourite player.
01/02/2018
He is a great person and everyone looks up to him. Good on ya mate.
08/08/2018
Greatest footballer to ever play the game stats prove it and equally the same of the field true legend
25/03/2019
ONE OF THE BEST MOST INTERESTING PLAYERS TO WATCH.
I WILL MISS WATCHING U PLAY.
27/03/2019
He is by far the best player I have ever seen run around on that football field.
11/06/2019
One of the best players in history. Shame he doesnt play anymore.
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.
04/11/2019
best player to ever play the game no doubt.
20/05/2020
Great player. Will always be behind Joey Johns though
16/07/2020
Absolute legend and an awesome role model chur
30/07/2020
Best Ever Player...................EVER
19/09/2020
2015 will be remembered as one of the greatest grand final!
29/10/2020
A great player that many people look up to because of his game on and off the field.
03/05/2021
Second best halfback of all time after Andrew Johns
18/05/2021
Most dominate and consistent player for such a long time absolute freak the goat
03/05/2023
cool
01/02/2024
Jonathon Thurston is the Goat!!!
19/02/2024
The best player ever. He is the true G.O.A.T.
Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.