Johnathan Thurston hailed North Queensland’s maiden NRL premiership as the crowning achievement of his career after putting the finishing touch on one of the most complete CVs in rugby league history.
The Immortal-in-waiting added the elusive title and the Clive Churchill Medal to his resume after leading the Cowboys to an epic 17-16 golden-point grand final victory over Brisbane on Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
His extra-time field goal, having struck the upright with a match-winning conversion attempt after the siren had sounded, sent Cowboys fans into a frenzy.
It was the final frontier for Thurston, who secured his first NRL title coming off the bench for Canterbury as a 21-year-old in 2004.
A dual Golden Boot winner as world player of the year, Thurston last week claimed a record fourth Dally M Medal.
Throw in nine State of Origin series wins for Queensland and a Rugby League World Cup with Australia and Thurston has achieved everything the game has to offer.
“I’m speechless,” he told the Nine Network, almost in tears, minutes after the win.
“Wow, I can’t believe what I’ve just done – unbelievable. I just love this club.”
Jubilant Cowboys coach Paul Green hailed Thurston a hero.
“He’s unbelievable,” Green said.
“I don’t think there’s any other player that I’d want to take that goal. It wasn’t to be, but he iced the game when he got the chance.”
Thurston later said he ranked co-captaining the Cowboys with Matt Scott to the club’s breakthrough premiership above anything else he’d accomplished in his decorated career.
“It’s No.1,” he said.
“Because that’s what you do. You set out every year to do that and I can’t be prouder with the way the boys have gone about their business all year.
“Whoever’s come in and done a job, they’ve done a job for us and that was evident throughout the Origin period.
“We only lost one match during that period this year and, in the past, that’s probably been where we’ve been our weakest.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sponge - if it's any consolation I know what you mean and agree. Thurston doesn't become a better player because he's won a premiership. Would he be considered a worse player if the Broncos had have won by a point? The concept is ridiculous. I can understand if Thurston's 2015 season has changed someone's opinion of him but not really off the back of that one game which by his standards was a below average performance.
SpongeBob
Guest
Now I'm a bit confused if you're going the wrong direction or it's a deliberate sarcasm attempt that is whooshing over my head :)
Russell
Guest
Spongers I think you have a bee in your bonnet! What has Hayne go to do with it? Never mind the obvious and brilliant evidence of Leonardo. So really you just prefer and favour DCE and you're a bit annoyed that Johnathan Thurston gets any credit at all despite the views of a great many people steeped in the game. I think you'll find that in spite of the very good job the Broncos did on him and a few others he played a game that kept his side in it and brought them back into it when needed ......usual sign of a pretty good player ..... but there you go! But how did you Know I'd lost some screws? Keep smiling and enjoy the game ;-) By the way I missed the point on purpose! :-)
SpongeBob
Guest
You've missed my point. His last game was very ordinary. Somehow though, he now has a premiership which "confirms" him the real deal to some people. Hayne has squat all to his name. Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in so many blockbusters it's not funny, yet 0 oscars to go with it. Both of those guys are pretty average at their trade then? Awards mean very little. Thurston was a pass mark at best yet got the Churchill medal for best on ground. Ridiculous. You've got a screw loss if you think yesterday Thurston was ordinary but today he's now proven himself a great player because of an after the siren try and a candy drop goal. Over his career he's shown many times his ability, a premiership or not really doesn't matter. The best indicator IMO is the competition. DCE played for Australia last year and was - in my opinion - an embarrassment. You could drive a planet through Thurston & DCE the gap is that big. Nothing shows the value of what you had better than when it's gone.
Russell
Guest
I think you missed my point sponger, Hunt & Milford won't play on an international arena this year either! I am impressed however, that you have not changed your opinion of him in the face of the views all the players and coaches and retired greats - they could all be mistaken I suppose?
SpongeBob
Guest
Doesn't change him at all in my opinion. He played average. For 75 minutes Hunt & Milford were much better. That's why anyone mentioning the lack of premierships is just making excuses to put him down. He's a great player, as if "I participated in a grand final with an average performance, but we won so now I've proven something!". How many Origins & premierships has Hayne won exactly? Paul Whatuira has won 2 premierships yet you'd be forgiven for asking "who?".
Russell
Guest
And sadly his talent will not be seen on a world stage because there are no tests............... And that will be the hole in the complete CV concept!