The Queensland State Secondary School Association’s greatest ever league side has one omission – where’s JT?
The Queensland State Secondary School Association will announced its all-star centenary team on Thursday prior to the Phil Hall Cup state grand final – but there will be one glaring omission. Where’s the great JT?
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A greatest all-time team without Johnathan Thurston? Impossible you may say.
However the Queensland State Secondary School Association is set to announce its 100 year Centenary team on Thursday and we can reveal there is one glaring omission – JT.
The St Mary’s College old boy is an immortal in waiting, but has remarkably missed the eligibility list that includes great halves like Allan Langer and Benji Marshall.
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“To be eligible for selection, a player must have represented Queensland Secondary Schools RL, in the 15 years and or Open National Championships,’’ explained selector Phil Hall.
“In 2000, JT and Cameron Smith both played in the State Open Championships in Cairns (JT for Darling Downs and Cameron for Met East).
“Neither were chosen in the state side.
“But Cameron was eligible for this centenary team as he had represented the QSSRL in the national 15s, two years earlier in Canberra.’’
Hall and his fellow four man members at least can cite a reason for Thurston’s omission from their side – unlike the state selectors from yesteryear who, at the time, omitted Thurston from the Queensland school rep squad.
“He missed out on both the 15s and Opens. Something that the selectors of both teams are still copping it about 20 odd years later,’’ one current QSSSA official laughed.
So who was eligible for selection?
The team to be announced on Thursday prior to the kick-off of the Phil Hall Cup state grand final between Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Kirwan SHS. The final will be livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au
Here is a list of elite players eligible for the team.
Justin O’Neill
Sid Domic
Rhys Wesser
Michael Hancock
Kerry Boustead
Chris Close
Ben Walker,
Shane Walker
Matt Sing
Sam Perrett
Steve Renouf
Ben Ikin
Chris Walker
Ashley Alberts
Ben Hunt
Michael Morgan
Kalyn Ponga
Chris Sandow
Darius Boyd
Greg Inglis
Justin Hodges
Karmichael Hunt
Israel Folau
Matt Bowen
Allan Langer
Brent Tate
Darren Lockyer
Mark Murray
Kevin Walters
Benji Marshall
Shaun Berrigan
Tomorrow, we present Phil Hall’s recollections of the best schoolboy players he saw – and his No. 1 choice will surprise most.
The team will then be unveiled on Thursday ahead of the Phil Hall Cup to be livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au