Broncos legend Sam Thaiday reveals he dreamt of being a Cowboy

SAM Thaiday might be about to bring up his 300th game as a Bronco but once the cheeky veteran hangs up the boots he’ll cheer for North Queensland.

Sam Thaiday is seen during a Brisbane Broncos training session at Clive Berghofer Field in Brisbane, Monday, July 23, 2018. The Broncos are playing their round 20 NRL match against the Cronulla Sharks on Thursday night in Brisbane. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

BRONCOS veteran Sam Thaiday says being snubbed by North Queensland propelled him to the exclusive 300-game club at Brisbane and he will spend his retirement supporting the Cowboys.

Thaiday will become the 33rd player in NRL history to play 300 games when he runs on to 1300 SMILES Stadium against the Cowboys next Thursday night.

Thaiday, 33, will follow in the footsteps of Darren Lockyer (355 games) and Corey Parker (347) and become Brisbane’s third player to notch up 300 appearances for the club.

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It has taken Thaiday 16 seasons to reach the rare milestone after he was thrown an NRL lifeline by legendary Broncos scout Cyril Connell in 2002 after repeatedly being overlooked by the Cowboys.

Thaiday was raised in Townsville, attended renowned league nursery Kirwan State High School and was a North Queensland fan since the club’s foundation in 1995.

But he could not get a look-in at the Cowboys and instead forged an outstanding career at the Broncos in which he became a Kangaroos and Maroons mainstay.

“I wanted to be a Cowboy,” Thaiday said.

“I went to the first game with my dad and older brother. We sat on the hill and when the Cowboys came to town it lifted the town.

Thaiday couldn’t get a start at the Cowboys.

“There was a buzz around rugby league. We had our own team finally. It was tough times early on.

“I can still remember as a kid when we signed on at a junior club we got two tickets to go to each game. If I didn’t get my two tickets I sold Big League magazines so I could get a free ticket to get in.

“I’ve always been a Cowboys fan. I’ll support them when I’m finished and stop playing footy as well.

“It’s just through different circumstances I didn’t end up there.

“I was lucky enough to be picked up by the Broncos. It could be a totally different story if I stayed in Townsville and played my career there.

“I don’t know if I would have had the journey I’ve had so far. I’m grateful for the Broncos and the way my career has ended up.”

Thaiday has become one of Brisbane’s best ever forwards/

Thaiday will retire at season’s end, meaning he only has four regular season games remaining before a sudden-death finals series.

To overcome his Cowboys heartbreak and play 300 NRL games is an incredible feat for the hard-running forward, especially after his debut in 2003 ended in tears.

“I played the Bulldogs and my first run Mark O’Meley levelled me,” Thaiday said.

“In my second run he levelled me again. It was a rude awakening and welcoming to first grade.

“I got injured in my first game. I had a high ankle sprain and missed six weeks of footy.

“I can remember getting that first taste then sitting there rehabbing for six weeks trying to get back to play footy again. I just wanted to be in that first grade team.

Thaiday will play his 300th game against North Queensland.

“There has been a lot of hard work over a lot of years. It’s a very special club and I’m lucky to be part of it.

“There are a lot of young rugby league players out there that aspire to play one game of NRL and I’ve been one of the lucky ones that will play 300 games for my club.

“I’ve represented my state, country and people where my dad is from up in the Torres Strait.

“I’ve been very lucky throughout my career.”

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The Broncos will lose arguably their most popular player when Thaiday hangs up his boots.

He will finish an outstanding career with 29 Origin appearances for Queensland and 34 Tests for Australia to go with his 300-plus NRL games and three matches for the indigenous All Stars.

But Thaiday has had no second thoughts about his decision to depart at season’s end following what has been a taxing year.

“I’m sore, I’m tired,” he said.

“One of the trainers asked me the other day how I was going and I said I felt like an old John Deere tractor out in the paddock. I’ll keep chugging along.

“I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can and have as much fun as I can with the boys.

“As a young fella I thought I’d never play first grade at the Broncos because they had such a star forward pack.

“It’s going to be a great occasion and opportunity to go back home and play my 300th game where it all started for me.”