With a calmly slotted 30th-minute penalty goal, Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston added to his celebrated career by becoming State of Origin’s greatest pointscorer on Wednesday night.
Nailed from virtually straight in front in Game II At ANZ Stadium, the kick had none of Thurston’s trademark hook, but it ensured his legacy would become greater still.
Footballers habitually say milestones are something that don’t really matter at the time, rather something they will look upon when their careers are over. But Queensland’s 6-4 loss, that finally relinquished their Origin crown, is not a game Thurston will remember fondly.
Thurston’s 40th Origin goal, added to his five tries, pushed him to 162 points in interstate football in his 29th game, pushing him past Queensland coach Mal Meninga’s haul of 161 points in 32 games.
The 31-year-old Thurston, who is still likely to have a number of seasons of Origin football ahead to build on his record tally, kicked the first points from a 14th-minute penalty goal and added to that with his record-breaking kick in a low-scoring game in which points were at a premium.
Thurston’s two goals were the sole points scored in the first half as Queensland went into the break with a 4-0 lead, seeking to keep their record eight successive series winning streak alive after NSW won Game I three weeks ago, 12-8.
Any points were so important that NSW skipper Paul Gallen gesticulated wildly at Josh Reynolds when the Blues’ five-eighth turned down an easy shot at goal to opt for a quick tap in the 19th minute.
By his high standards, Thurston had a quiet game but, with eight minutes remaining, Queensland still held the upper hand.
That was until Blues halfback Trent Hodkinson sliced through the Maroons’ goalline defence as Thurston had done so many times himself before to the Blues, to score the try for the home side before 83,421 delirious fans and then kicking the match-winning conversion.
“Full credit to New South Wales – it was a great game to be part of,” Thurston told the Nine Network post-game.
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