NRL grand final 2015: Moment of genius from Johnathan Thurston wins thriller for Cowboys

THE genius of Johnathan Thurston has finally had its way with a grand final, willing the Cowboys over the finish line in a golden point thriller.

JOHNATHAN Thurston, you are a bloody genius.

The greatest player in the code’s history last night produced the greatest play in the greatest grand final to break Brisbane’s hearts and deliver the Cowboys’ maiden premiership.

In a decider that defied belief, 82,758 spellbound fans watched Thurston bend and shape history with an extra-time field goal to snatch an epic 17-16 victory in the all-Queensland affair at ANZ Stadium.

The 82nd minute one-pointer smashed North Queensland’s 20-year title drought, ruined retiring Justin Hodges’ finale and was the final coronation of Thurston as the finest player the code has witnessed.

This was not a grand final. This was in an unrivalled stratosphere. Truly magical. The Cowboys looked gone, trailing 16-12 before Thurston helped set up winger Kyle Feldt, who touched down after the full-time siren to level scores.

Incredibly, Thurston’s conversion hit the right upright, but the setback was only a dramatic preamble to the extra-time heroics that franked his and North Queensland’s fairytale.

Johnathan Thurston nails the match winning field goal.

When Thurston snapped the field goal, elated Cowboys players swamped their champion, while shattered Broncos stars fell to the turf as broken men.

It was particularly gut-wrenching for Thurston’s halfback rival Ben Hunt, who grassed the extra-time kick-off on his tryline to give the Cowboys their shot at glory.

A rivulet of tears flowed on both sides. Tears from Hunt _ and from Thurston, who atoned for the Cowboys’ night of heartbreak in their 2005 grand final loss to the Tigers.

“I’m speechless, I can’t believe it,” Thurston said, shaking visibly, riven with emotion.

“I can’t believe what we have just done.

“I love these boys, they work so hard. The sacrifices they make. I love the club. Wow, I can’t believe it.”

While Cowboys players celebrated, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett made a bee-line to console Hunt, who has been magnificent all season and did not deserve his place in grand-final infamy.

“What happened on the ground is between me and Ben,” he said. “But plenty of people are in a worse place than Ben.”

The Cowboys celebrate their grand final victory.

For Bennett, it was his first grand-final loss from seven attempts as Broncos coach _ and only an irresistible force in Thurston could halt the master coach’s juggernaut.

Brisbane will rue this as the premiership that got away. Despite their below-par first half, they led 14-12 at the break and appeared to have one hand on the title when they led 16-12 with one minute to play.

But with the Cowboys’ final attacking raid, a desperate Thurston pass found its way to Michael Morgan, who put Feldt over as the full-time siren sounded.

“I never thought we had it until the full-time hooter,” Bennett said.

“That was an absolutely outstanding game, someone had to lose.”

Throughout his career, Thurston’s competitive drive has imposed his will on contests. Last night, with everything at stake, the greatest player we have seen gave rugby league its greatest moment.

Typically, Thurston bent, twisted, shaped and penned the script, taking the Cowboys to their dreamworld.