Johnathan Thurston: An Indigenous Sports Star

This research assignment will look at an indigenous sport star, and how they have reflected the values of Australian sport. The sport star chosen is Johnathan Thurston.

Johnathan Thurston is a well known rugby league player who was born on 25 April 1983 in Brisbane, Queensland and is the captain and star half-back in one of the most respected rugby league teams, the North Queensland Cowboys. However, Johnathan Thurston is more than a brilliant sportsman, as he is a shining example of the main values of Australian Sport. These values include: Never giving up, Teamwork, Determination, Giving a fair go, playing fair, Winning, and of course, supporting the mighty underdog.   

Johnathan Thurston began playing rugby league as a young boy in Brisbane, playing for the Souths Sunnybank Junior Rugby League Football Club in Brisbane’s Southside. The next step he took towards his career in rugby league was when he moved to Toowoomba and played rugby league for his school (St. Mary’s College) and the All Whites Toowoomba Rugby League Club. Despite his obvious ability and natural talent when he was 18, none of the NRL (National Rugby League) clubs were willing to sign him up. Eventually though, with the help of his manager, he managed to sign up to play for the NRL team called the Bulldogs for next to nothing, and began his soon to be illustrious career.

Johnathan Thurston stayed with the Bulldogs for three years, and while never being able to get a guaranteed starting position, was still a vital part of the team. In his final game for the Bulldogs in the premierships, he came off the bench to join the victorious premiership team. Things changed when he moved to the North Queensland Cowboys and he gained a cemented starting spot as halfback, and began to show off his pure talent. Because of his amazing ability and consistency, he was granted the honour of being given his first Queensland State of Origin jersey. Things were going well for Johnathan Thurston and in his third year with the North Queensland Cowboys he was named as captain.

As a player and a captain Johnathan Thurston has received many awards and achieved lots in his career, including being called the North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year in 2005, winning the Dally M player of the year twice in 2007 and 2005, as well as the Dally M Halfback of the year in 2005 and 2007. And to top off his brilliant career, in August 2008 he was named the Halfback for the indigenous team of the century.

Because Australia is such a great and proud sporting country, we have developed certain values that the most celebrated sports starts uphold, such as determination to achieve their goal, working as a team to ensure victory, never giving up even in the face of defeat. Some other values are always giving others a fair go, playing fair and by the rules, not being afraid to support the underdog, and of course, the ability to win.

Johnathan Thurston has demonstrated the values of Australian sport multiple times in his career. One example of this is in 2008 where he went under shoulder surgery and was not expected to return until round 5, but instead he made an appearance in round 1, and as a result set up the try that ultimately won the game, showing the values of never giving up along with determination, and because he set up the try, teamwork was also shown. Also, in 2008 while he was playing in Australia’s first match of the world cup he received the honour of being named player of the match, despite having to mourn the death of his uncle who had been murdered in a Brisbane park less than 38 hours before the game and having people expect him to play poorly due to the emotional stress. By doing this he showed the right to a fair go and never giving up, along with determination. Johnathan Thurston is also a very fair player, and has always given other players a fair go, and is against cheating. He has had the underdog status, along with showing the essential ability to win.

Because Johnathan Thurston has shown all of the values of Australian sport multiple times during his career, along with being one of the most respected and brilliant sportsmen of the NRL, he has definitely earned the right to be called an Indigenous Sports star.