Johnathan Thurston on kicking golden point to win premiership

Cowboys v Broncos, 2015. It was one of the greatest grand finals in history. But what was going through JT’s head when he missed a conversion after the full-time siren as the scores were locked 16-all, and then desperately tried for a golden point field goal to win the Cowboy’s first premiership?

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I WENT about clearing my head as I placed the tee on the ground. I was looking through the posts to find my new mark when my concentration was suddenly shattered.

‘JT," shouted a voice, a very familiar voice. "You want 500 bucks, old mate?"

I turned and Allan Langer (Alfie) was smiling.

The Broncos legend turned Broncos trainer stood behind me, water bottle in hand, grin slapped across his face. "Well, miss it and it"s yours."

Now I was laughing, at least inside. Bloody Alfie.

Thurston keeps the ball alive on the last play which resulted in try to the Cowboys during the 2015 NRL Grand Final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

I looked back at the ball and cleared my head. Again. Then I stood up, the breeze at my back and took five steps back.

I checked my mark. My aim was true. I then looked down at the ball. I was going to come over the top of it a little bit more than usual to keep it lower and out of the breeze.

I wiggled my toes as I stared at the ball.

My legs had finally returned to me. I imagined the feeling of the ball hitting my foot.

I felt good. I was set.

I took another little look at my mark behind the posts:

I was smack bang on target. I pulled up my socks and went back in to address the ball.

You got this. Now it was just me, the ball and the posts.

I could hear nothing and I felt nothing.

Johnathan Thurston’s autobiography on sale Thursday.

I took my final steps to get into my kicking position: five back, two left, and another back. There were no nerves, no fear and no hesitation.

I imagined the kick in my head.

In my mind, I moved in and nailed the footy, sent it sailing between the posts.

Now to do it for real. I moved in, taking another step back and another across before beginning my march, and I launched my foot into the ball.

Whack! I hit it sweet. Exactly where I wanted.

Time seemed to stop as I watched the ball. It was heading towards its target, beginning wide as planned and now coming back.

That"s it. Come back some more … And it did.

I thought it was going over.

I raised my arm, celebration set. It was going over for all money.

Oh no …

Thurston during the 2015 grand final. Picture Gregg Porteous

"This is it, boys," I said. "This is our chance."

I pleaded for calm.

I told them to prepare for what was to come: a full set of six, right in front of the posts.

And even better, the first play was to come off a scrum.

Receiving the ball from a scrum restart was ideal for a field-goal attempt.

Six defenders were going to be out of the defensive line, and there would be no markers to rush me down.

We quickly set up the play. I asked for two blockers. I was going to have the shot on play one. I went through it in my head. I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time.

Thurston get set to kick a golden point field goal in extra time. Picture Gregg Porteous

Thurston set himself to strike the ball. Picture Gregg Porteous

The ball is sent on its way.. Picture Gregg Porteous

YES! It’s over and with that the Cowboys are NRL premiers. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

The Broncos would know it was coming as soon as I took my mark.

I was going to have the man who locked the scrum rushing at me.

The pair in the back row too. I would be a marked man.

I went back to the 20 to give myself some space.

Still, I would have to catch and snap.

I stood with my hands out and waited for the ball.

Again I was one kick away from winning a grand final … And then it was in my hands.

Jake Granville (Jakey) had pulled the ball from the scrum and fired it my way.

Oh no … Broncos everywhere.

I was confronted by a maroon-and-yellow swarm, buzzing bees, stingers set.

There was no way I could get to a drop kick.

So I stepped off my right foot and I ran.

Thurston celebrates kicking the winning field in golden point to give the Cowboys the NRL premiership. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Not again … I was tackled about 15 metres out.

I played the ball and Jason Taumalolo went on a charge.

He was tackled just metres from the line. We were now too close to the try line to have a shot at goal from first receiver.

There would be too much pressure with the defensive line just metres away.

"This is your kick, Cootey," I said as I pointed towards Lachlan Coote.

Cootey could kick them pretty sweet. He had already won a game by booting a field goal earlier that year.

I pointed to the spot where I wanted him and he moved into position.

I thought I could give him enough space. Jake hit me from dummy half and I flung it to Coote.

"Noooo," I heard him yell. Too late, the ball had been let loose.

Thurston celebrates the Cowboys golden point win. Picture: Brett Costello

Hunt, out for redemption, was charging at him.

Coote was no chance of having a shot.

He took the ball and stepped to his right before charging left.

He shovelled the ball to Kane Linnett near the sideline.

Not again.

This was fast becoming a nightmare.

Thurston soaking in the victory with his young daughter Frankie. Picture: Brett Costello

Coote took the ball from Jakey and fired it to Tamou for a settler.

He was tackled 12 metres out from the Broncos" try line.

Suddenly I had the ball in my hands.

I was, again, 20 metres out and right in front.

I looked up and had some space. It was now or never.

Whack!

Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography, by Johnathan Thurston with James Phelps, is published by HarperCollins Australia and will be in all good bookstores and online from October 18.