The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Is Thurston the greatest ever Australian rugby league halfback?

13th April, 2015
Advertisement
North Queensland sweat on the return of JT. (Photo: AAP)
Expert
13th April, 2015
176
5147 Reads

It’s an intriguing question as I’ve seen many magnificent rugby league halfbacks over the last 65 years, starting with Keith Holman in the early 1950s.

‘Yappy’ was a non-stop talker to his Western Suburbs, NSW, and Kangaroo teammates between 1948 and 1961. He played 203 games for Wests, 25 for NSW, and 35 for Australia and was a very chunky footballer who was as strong in attack as he was in defence.

Holman was named a life member of Wests while he was still playing, made a life member of the NSWRL, named in Wests Team of the Century, and was one of six inducted into the inaugural Wests Hall of Fame.

Barry Muir was much the same, with 26 games for Queensland, and 25 Tests, making his international debut alongside Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, and Noel Kelly against the Kiwis in 1959.

Billy Smith was an integral part of the champion St George side during the latter part of the club’s record 11 consecutive premierships. He played 234 games for the Dragons from 1961 to 1977, 17 games for NSW, and 26 Tests, and named by Rugby League Week as the halfback in the best Australian team from 1970 and 1985.

There’s only one Tommy Raudonikis, who captained NSW in the inaugural State of Origin in 1980. He was tough as teak. Raudonikis played 202 games for Wests from 1969 to 1979 to become an original member of Wests Hall of Fame, and played 24 games for NSW and 20 Tests.

Raudonikis was voted by Men of League Foundation as one of the 12 toughest players over the last 50 years.

Steve Mortimer captained NSW to its first Origin series success in 1985 with his typical pride and passion that were keys to his success in 272 games for Canterbury-Bankstown, nine games for NSW, and nine Tests. His halves combination with Terry Lamb was one of the most enduring in the the premiership.

Advertisement

Peter Sterling was the general in Parramatta’s three premierships in 1981, 1982, and 1983 during his 227 games for the Eels from 1978 to 1992. He was a pivotal member of the 1982 Kangaroo Invincibles and 1985 Kangaroo Unbeatables, both unbeaten in tours to Great Britain and France during his 18 Tests.

Sterling was inducted into the ARL’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

Allan Langer played 240 games for the Broncos between 1988 and 1999, 34 for Queensland, and 24 for the Kangaroos, and with every game he was the general, just as devastating in attack as he was in defence. Langer was named in Queensland’s Team of the Century, and inducted into Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ricky Stuart made the right decision to switch to rugby league after the Wallaby tour to Argentina in 1987 to lead the Raiders to premierships in 1989, 1990, and 1994, as well as the losing grand finalist in 1991.

He played 203 games for the Raiders, and 40 for the Bulldogs, made 14 appearances for NSW, and nine for Australia, and won his Dally M in 1993.

Andrew Johns played 249 games for Newcastle from 1993 to 2007, 23 for NSW, and 24 for Australia. He was a good footballer, but a better goal-kicker, the code’s record points-scorer with 2176. But I still spit chips that he was named the eighth Immortal when Ken Irvine, plus Ron Coote, Mal Meninga, Sterling and Langer have been ignored.

And that brings us to Johnathan Thurston, who yet again excelled on Sunday night. He turned a 12-4 half-time deficit to Souths into a 30-12 victory, crossing for two tries, setting up a third, and landing five from six for 18 points.

Advertisement

The formula is simple, Thurston fires, the Cowboys fire. That formula has been successful for three weeks this season, following three losses. Thurston was the oldest footballer on the paddock last night, he turns 32 on Anzac Day, but at ANZ Stadium he was the undisputed man of the match,

Masterful.

He holds the Origin points record at 174, he’s played a record 30 consecutive Origin games with Darren Lockyer’s all-time Origin record of 36 in his sights. So to compare Thurston to the best I’ve seen, there’s Sterling, Langer and Andrew Johns to contend with.

Thurston has won thee Dally Ms in 2005, 2007 and 2014, plus two Golden Boots in 2011 and 2013. Johns has won three Dally Ms in 1998, 1999 and 2002, and two Golden Boots in 1999 and 2001.

Sterling’s won two Dally Ms in 1986 and 1987, plus sharing a Golden Boot with Hugh McGahan in 1987, while Langer won his Dally M in 1996.

How do I rate them in order?

Johnathan Thurston, Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns, Allan Langer.

Advertisement
close