Johnathan Thurston

Johnathan Thurston

Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer and co-captain of the National Rugby League (NRL) team, the North Queensland Cowboys. During his NRL career he has frequently been cited as rugby league's best player. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative half-back and goal-kicker, Thurston is also a two-time Dally M Medal and one-time Wally Lewis Medal winner. Thurston started his career at the Bulldogs where he won the 2004 NRL premiership before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys in 2005, playing in that year's grand final. In 2008 he was named as halfback of the Australian Aboriginal rugby league team of the century. In 2011, he won the Golden Boot Award for the World's best player. Thurston is the only player to have played in all 21 games of Queensland's seven-year State of Origin winning streak from 2006–2012.