Thurston a man for the ages
July 3rd 2008 09:34
Cameron Smith lifts Johnathon Thurston as QLD claim another Origin series
"Catch me if you can" were the words Billy Slater thought as he sealed QLD's third consecutive Origin series.
In the end, the Blues weren't man enough.
As thirteen of their players stood tough in the defensive line, Maroon half Johnathon Thurston runs at Brett White, knowing full well his opponent never stood a chance.
Thurston goes through untouched, aware of the fact he just secured his status as the premier player in the NRL.
In the Origin arena, there is no room for talk. Actions are the keys to unlocking players worthy of rememberance.
As it stands, Thurston nailed the final coffin in both NSW and Buderus's illustrious career in Australia.
He pushed the buttons that left the Maroons victorious. A man with nothing left to prove kept running at brick walls, scheming - always looking to put his team in a position of strength.
When under pressure, Thurston makes the right moves. The Cowboy has been doing this for years, his teams can't lose.
With a mindset as hard as king Wally himself, nobody last night felt the aura of success greater than Thurston.
The huddle that comes prior to an Origin decider compelled the Australian half to step up in an arena where only the faint of heart have conquered.
In the simplest of terms, Thurston is a freak.
His love for the game allows him to try plays others would consider ludacrious. Thurston has gone the longest yard to ensuring his status in rugby league remains unmatched.
Running back two years, Thurston replicated last night's performance in the final of the tri-nations in 2006.
In what was arguably the greatest test match, Thurston ran the ball and delivered to then captain Darren Lockyer to beat the Kiwis and claim the tri-nations.
It just shows how Thurston is never one to step out of bounds when every lasting second counts.
He has been prepared to slip, fall and trip in order to try something with the footy at his fingertips.
With ten minutes remaining in the Origin decider, Thurston runs the ball all the way through, fresh air aplenty. Billy Slater is on the recieving end of yet another Cowboy masterstroke.
The new face on the yard in terms of legend status, Thurston was the tragic man that ended Blues skipper Danny Buderus's dreams of a fairytale.
As stiff as one can be, Thurston stood tall in the end zone of Origin football.
Now a Wally Lewis medallist, Thurston's career up to date has felt few fumbles.
While the Nth Qld Cowboys tumble down the ladder, Thurston remains the gorilla in a side lacking fight and courage.
Now one of the best halves to grace our code, Thurston's ability to leave opponents up in dust is clinical to say the least.
He hits the ground so hard he leaves tiger tracks, his palm stickier than a spiders web.
For every stride in Johnathon Thurston's game is one of breath and life.
Constantly screaming out orders, Thurston excells in the moments that matter whether it be last nights decider or this years Rugby World Cup.
Sure, there will be times when Thurston gets dropped and the ball comes loose.
But like a flare gun, Thurston will spark attention to all people sitting on chairs either at Suncorp or ANZ stadium.
Because when it comes to Thurston - you can take a man's licence to dominate but never his desire.
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