Fans relish final farewell to legend of the game
OUTGOING legend Johnathan Thurston closed the curtains on a 17-year career as a winner in front of thousands of supporters on the Gold Coast – and it was his dedicated North Queensland supporters who cheered the loudest.
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OUTGOING legend Johnathan Thurston closed the curtains on a 17-year career as a winner in front of thousands of supporters on the Gold Coast.
And while it might be a Gold Coast Titans home game, Cowboys fans turned out in droves to farewell the champion player.
Plenty of young footy lovers hugged the pitch fence just to get a glimpse ofThurston.
Longtime Cowboys supporter Onslow Phillips bought tickets to Thurston’s match six weeks ago, to ensure he got a seat to farewell the retiring playmaker.
“He’s a legend,” Phillips, from Bellmere said.
“All these kids (lined up at the fence watching the game) they all love the game because of him,” he said.
Others, including Phillips, filled the stands with Thurston’s name on their back, as they proudly wore a Cowboys, Queensland Maroons or Australian jersey.
Seven-year-old Kody Smith travelled with mum Tara all the way from Bundaberg just to farewell is hero.
He brought along with him a sign that reads “The next JT”.
“He’s the best player,” the young fan said.
The young footy player might just be too, as he reckons he’s already scored 32 tries this year for his local team.
Ms Smith said they had been driving around all day just go get some Cowboys apparel to wear for the occasion.
She said it was a priority to get tickets for the match as Kody was “obsessed with JT”.