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JT, wife Samantha on the surprise pregnancy that caps off stellar career

NRL star Johnathan Thurston broke down when the love of his life said she should leave him. This is the untold story of JT and his wife’s baby struggle.

Behind the scenes with Jonathan Thurston and his family

JOHNATHAN Thurston broke down when the love of his life said she should leave him.

“I will never be able to give you kids,’’ Samantha Lynch said.

“Just go. Find someone else.’’

Thurston’s partner had just been told her third attempt at IVF had failed.

“You need to be with someone that can give you what you want,’’ Samantha said.

“Give you a family.’’

Samantha had given up hope. She thought she would never be a mother. Never be a wife.

“My heart broke for her,’’ Thurston said.

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Cowboys Legend Johnathan Thurston with wife Samantha, with daughters Frankie 5, Charlie 3, and Lillie 18 months. The couple is expecting their fourth child. Photo Lachie Millard
Cowboys Legend Johnathan Thurston with wife Samantha, with daughters Frankie 5, Charlie 3, and Lillie 18 months. The couple is expecting their fourth child. Photo Lachie Millard

MORE THAN JAMES PHELPS

THE SURPRISE AWARD THURSTON RATES ALONGSIDE HIS FOUR DALLY Ms

HOW JT ALMOST JOINED THE PANTHERS

“She offered to leave me after our third attempt at IVF failed. I just told her I loved her and I would never leave her, even if I would never be a Dad.’’

On the eve of his NRL retirement, Johnathan Thurston this week announced he is expecting his fourth child.

A new baby to join Frankie, 5, Charlie, 3 and Lillie, 1.

And it may just be the rugby league magician’s greatest miracle.

“There is no way we were expecting this,’’ Thurston said.

“All three of my girls were born through IVF and this happened naturally.’’

This is the remarkable story of how the greatest NRL player of his era defied the odds to become the ultimate family man.

A tale of miscarriages, IVF and how Samantha fell pregnant, aged 43, to give Thurston the fairytale finish he didn’t get in rugby league.

A love story.

Thurston announced the surprise pregnancy on Instagram this week. Picture: Instagram
Thurston announced the surprise pregnancy on Instagram this week. Picture: Instagram

SECRET PAIN

Thurston’s secret pain began back in 2011.

The future rugby league immortal was 29, in the prime of his career and well on his way to becoming an all-time great. He would soon endure a private hell.

“Samantha told me she wanted to have a baby,’’ Thurston said.

“We had been together a few years but it kind of took me by surprise. We weren’t married but I knew she was the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. But still I didn’t know if I was ready to have a baby.’’

Samantha feared it was now or never.

“I was 36 at the time,’’ Samantha said.

“I told him that we had to get moving or it might never happen.’’

Thurston refused to Samantha’s offer of leaving her when their third IVF attempt failed. Photo Lachie Millard
Thurston refused to Samantha’s offer of leaving her when their third IVF attempt failed. Photo Lachie Millard

At first Thurston wasn’t sure if he was ready.

“I thought I would always do things the right way,’’ Thurston said.

“That I would get engaged, married, move into a house and then have children. Samantha and I weren’t even engaged at the time and we were living in a unit.’’

Thurston soon realised he was being selfish.

“I guess I didn’t want to stop my way of life,’’ Thurston said.

“I had no responsibilities, I was travelling in the off-season and I guess I was just worried about becoming a Dad.

“I realised that Samantha was the girl for me and we needed to start trying for a family now or maybe never have one.’’

His heart would soon be broken.

Thurston with the couple’s first baby Frankie Louise. Picture: Instagram
Thurston with the couple’s first baby Frankie Louise. Picture: Instagram

HEARTBREAK

Thurston edged his way through the darkness.

“Samantha?’’ he asked.

“Are you crying?’’

Thurston pushed open the bathroom door. Samantha was sobbing over a sink.

“What’s wrong?”

Until now all was perfect.

On holiday in Hawaii — all sunsets, blue-sea, and smiles — they were carefree and sun kissed.

“I think I have just had a miscarriage,’’ Samantha said.

Samantha broke down.

“She was shattered. Samantha hardly talked for the next four days. Nothing I said helped — she was broken. Sam didn’t leave the hotel room until it was time to go home. We cancelled all the tours and activities that we had planned and sat in the dark.’’

Samantha had another miscarriage later that year.

“That’s when we decided to try IVF,’’ Thurston said.

The couple welcomed their second daughter Charlie Grace in 2015.
The couple welcomed their second daughter Charlie Grace in 2015.

ONE LAST TRY

Samantha lost all hope after her third round of IVF failed. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she told Thurston to leave her.

“Never say that again,’’ Thurston said.

“I am in love with you. No matter how much I want children, I want to spend my life with you more.’’

With that they hugged.

“Let’s keep on trying,’’ Thurston said.

“We will do whatever it takes. Let’s go and see a specialist in Sydney.’’

“It was a horrible time,’’ Thurston said.

“It was so hard for her. I watched her take the daily injections, saw her get her hopes up every-time an embryo was implanted, and saw the tears when she was told it hadn’t worked.

“We decided to give it one last try — this time at an IVF clinic in Sydney.’’

The couple’s third daughter Lillie was born 18-months ago. Picture: Instagram.
The couple’s third daughter Lillie was born 18-months ago. Picture: Instagram.

A PERFECT BABY

The Thurston’s fourth child is due early next year. Picture: Instagram
The Thurston’s fourth child is due early next year. Picture: Instagram

Frankie Louise Thurston was born nine months later.

“It’s a perfect baby,’’ the obstetrician said.

Thurston and Samantha beamed, smiles saying more than words.

“It was the best feeling,’’ Thurston said.

“And it changed my life.’’

All big eyes and beautiful face, Frankie Louise turned the famous footballer into famous family man — Thurston today announced as Phillips Sports Dad of the Year for the second time.

“I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t sure about having a kid when Sam told me she wanted to fall pregnant,’’ Thurston said.

“Now I just wanted to have more.’’

And that he did, first Charlie Grace and then Lillie Rose.

“But we certainly weren’t expecting a fourth,’’ Thurston said.

“Not after all the difficulties we faced. It was the greatest surprise I have had.’’

Thurston last night retired from rugby league when he played his final game for the Cowboys in a clash against the Titans.

But his career as a family man and father is only beginning.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/cowboys/jt-wife-samantha-on-the-surprise-pregnancy-that-caps-off-stellar-career/news-story/a11cfe7d4a7ac102d49b7b43a8837349