Johnathan Thurston

He is Johnathan Thurston. JT, one of the greats, simply the best.

His status as one of the greats of rugby league cannot be questioned – an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All Stars representative. In 2015, he became the first ever four-time Dally M Medallist for the NRL season’s best player, and later that year, the first ever three-time winner of the Golden Boot Award for the world’s best player.

When the final siren sounded on 1 September 2018 at Cbus Stadium on the Gold Coast, arguably rugby league’s greatest career ended, JT walking off the field to be farewelled a legend. Fans cheered. Teammates hugged. Officials shook his hand. His family and friends shed a tear. Then came the speeches. For his adoring fans, it was the end of an era – for JT it was a moment that had been 30 years in the making. A moment that once seemed improbable.

This is a story that began in a Brisbane backyard. With a boy, a ball and a big, big dream. They all said he was too skinny, too slow, and too wild to succeed. Most would have quit. This is the story of how Johnathan Thurston transformed himself into a world champion – how he went from a kid with dreadlocks to a State of Origin star and Dally M Medal winner in just three years – and went on to become rugby league’s greatest player.

In his autobiography, JT recounts the complete and remarkable story of his life. Of setbacks and scandals. Of agony and pain. Of love and hate. Of victories and losses. And of Clive Churchill Medals, Dally M Medals, State of Origin shields and of fairy tale premierships – and of a girl called Samantha and how love conquered all.

Author Biography

Johnathan Thurston made his NRL debut back in 2002 with the Bulldogs, picking up a premiership ring in the Clubs 2004 Grand Final victory. He has played in every game in each of Queensland’s eight consecutive State of Origin victories, achieved the highest individual honour in Rugby League by being awarded the Golden Boot for World Player of the Year and has the rare distinction of winning three Dally M medals. In 2015 he won a premiership for his beloved North Queensland Cowboys and Townsville. James Phelps is an award-winning journalist and acclaimed author known for his bestselling true-crime prison series, which delves into the gritty and captivating lives of Australia’s most notorious inmates and the histories of the nation’s most infamous prisons. He is the author of eleven books, including Australian Heist, Australian Code Breakers, and the Riley Jax crime thriller, Inside Man. Phelps is also an award-nominated biographer, having worked with Dick Johnson, Johnathan Thurston and Curtis McGrath on their memoirs. With a background in sports and crime reporting for major publications, his Phelps’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling have cemented his reputation as one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary writers and its most popular true crime author.