Johnathan Thurston’s planned show of support for embattled AFL star Adam Goodes says a lot about the man, his North Queensland co-captain Matt Scott believes.
Cowboys superstar Thurston has indicated he will perform an indigenous war dance if he scores against Canberra in Townsville on Saturday – a show of solidarity for dual Brownlow Medallist Goodes which South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis also intends to honour.
Preparing to play his 200th NRL game, an admiring Scott endorsed Thurston’s plan.
“He (Thurston) is very proud of his indigenous heritage. He’s been quite open about that ever since I’ve known him,” Scott said on Thursday.
“I love the pride he takes in it. He’s done a lot of stuff with his family about going back and learning more about his past and his family’s past.
“It says a lot and there’s a couple of guys who are planning on doing it, good on them.”
Scott, who turned 30 on Thursday, is also quietly proud of his own journey from his debut in 2004 as an 18-year-old.
The Ilfracombe product has become one of the game’s leading props, playing a key role in Queensland’s dominant State of Origin era and also playing 17 Tests for Australia.
The only thing he is yet to achieve is a victory on a club milestone date after defeats in his 50th, 100th and 150th NRL appearances.
“I don’t like making a big deal about anything,” he said.
“Quite happy to just go under the radar and make this like any other game.
“I appreciate it’s a pretty good milestone and one I’m happy to celebrate. Won’t be doing anything too crazy but hopefully we buck the trend and finally get a win.”
True-Blue Cowboy
Matt Scott’s NRL career
Debut: v Parramatta, July 17, 2014
Games: 199
Tries: 14
Representative honours: Queensland (2006, 2010-15: 19 games, one try); Australia (2010-15: 17 games, one try)
* Dally M prop of the year – 2011
* Paul Bowman Medallist (Cowboys player of the year) – 2010, 2013
Squidward
Roar Rookie
100% on the money Baz!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Also - how does standing up to bullying make someone a troublemaker? It's a great lesson for kids - we want you to stand up to bullies and call out their behaviour. More bullies will join in, you'll be called a trouble maker and blamed for the problem and your life will be made even more miserable to the point where you can't face going to work/school. Why can't the troublemaker stop being a sook and just take it on the chin.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Since when did bullying become a political issue and not a life issue?
The Barry
Roar Guru
All I know of you us what you write here and writing that Goodes is a sook and Jetta embarrassing is a load of garbage. Goodes didn't bring politics into sport it was thrust on him. I never heard a bad word said of Goodes until he called out the 13 year old girl for calling him a monkey and he did the war dance celebration. After those incidents everyone is now booing him. The issues and the subsequent booing is 100% linked to race and anyone who boos him now, despite what their initial intentions may have been is a racist. Blaming Goodes for bringing politics into sport is victim blaming at its worst and no different to blaming a woman being raped on the fact that she wore a short skirt. Goodesy's a good bloke when he cops racist abuse on the chin, but when he speaks up about it he's a trouble maker, he's being divisive, bringing politics into sport, etc. Spare me! I'm sorry that you got bagged when you were a kid but that doesn't compare to an indigenous man standing in the middle of a football ground in Australia being booed because of the colour of his skin.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Thanks MAX, and that is all that I'm trying to get across here.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Barry, what the hell do you know about me? As I've said on another topic on this blog, that I've been called a "Wog" (in the old days) at school and outside of school because my parents came from Eastern Europe. I know what its like and I took all that on the chin and got over it. I most certainly don't have any issues towards Australians, I do understand how Goodes feels, but I'm baffled why (as Goods hasn't been booed before) Goodes ever brought politics and his indigenousness into sport. I had allot of respect and thought Goodes was a great man and a great AFL player before all this started. Goods has handled all this in the wrong way and his main aim (right from the start) was to point the finger at us 'that we are racists", which is ridiculous and not true. Australians are not racists and I can vouch for that categorically, eventhogh I grew up with some sort of discrimination in my younger years.
MAX
Guest
TB, The previous posts of steveng on the Goodes matter (and other matters) come across as him being a decent and honest bloke and like most of us an admirer of Adam and his achievements. Tolerance has been on a long holiday from this matter and its return would be most welcome.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Summed it up perfectly TB.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Lowest comment I've read on the roar. Sook? This bloke is a dual premiership winner, dual Brownlow winner and Australian of the year. And he's being booed by thousands of people based on his race. You have never experienced anything remotely like that and while you have the right to judge his reaction, your judgement is seriously flawed. This issue transcends sport and is a disgrace. I feel sorry for you that you see Jetta's celebrations and think it looks silly. I watched it and had goose bumps. My wife had tears in her eyes. It was one of the most moving things I've seen in a footy field and you missed it.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Goods is a big sook and this whole thing has gotten out of hand, the dance that Lewis Jetta did at the SCG last night was ridiculous and looked bad. Its about time that politics was keep out of sport, full stop.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Why can't he do both. No offence to Matt Scott but supporting Goodes is a far bigger issue than celebrating Scott's 200th.
turbodewd
Guest
I am behind Adam Goodes on this one...but this is an AFL issue.
Jean Smith
Guest
Are you referring to the ones booing as bigots or some other people? I think its wonderful how they're standing up for Goodes. I think all the ones booing are being way too sensitive about the dance Adam Goodes is performing any way.
maximillian
Guest
Yea I thought that Billy Moore comment was pretty ordinary. I don't think it was malicious in its intent but racism in sport has been a big topic on both sides of the Tasman so his timing couldn't be worse. As a Warriors fan I understood what he meant to say as the Warriors do play a different brand of footy to most sides, but he definitely could've worded it a lot better.
Jackso
Guest
Yes making a statement on the ground is fine so long as things don't go wrong thereafter especially if its an away game...Making a statement away from the field of battle is a better way especially as people have very set ideas. I think Goodes was given a goal after he arguably infringed which started the booing and it just continued from there. Bizarrely the herald called for the AFL to stop it which is like saying the Govt should stop people spitting in the street or talking loudly on their mobile phone...
Zachary Gates
Roar Guru
I heard reports this morning that Thurston has just remembered it is Matt Scott's 200th NRL game and therefore won't perform the tribal dance. He made the decision in order to not detract the attention from the champion front-rower on such a momentous occasion.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
No doubt that their involvement (when they have little to gain themselves) speaks volumes for the character of both. Similarly, I think I came across some commentary from Mark Ella recently (I can't remember where that was) - when Mark Ella talks - people listen - such is his status on the Australian sporting landscape - we're talking absolute top of the pops.
nopuritan
Guest
You got to hand to Thurston, be it on or off the football field he cuts through the confusion to make the right play. JT is a legend of Rugby League, a true Immortal in waiting and at the very top of his game. He has nothing to gain and much to lose by showing solidarity with Adam Goodes His (and Inglis') willingness to stand publicly with Adam Goodes and in so doing, standing against racism and for Aboriginal culture, represents the highest levels of courage and integrity. Until all Australians can acknowledge, understand and take pride in Aboriginal Australia this country remains a haven for bigots hiding in crowds.
ben
Guest
What is Billy Moore thinking calling the warriors style coconut style..... Really aus is in the dark ages when it comes to race relations and acceptability. Ive seen some say its political correctness gone crazy (said by whites by the way)...but gee they used to think the n word was ok and slavery as well...