Cowboys hero Johnathan Thurston’s post-grand final request

AFTER kicking the winning field goal, Johnathan Thurston realised this was his opportunity to make a big statement.

AFTER kicking the grand final-winning field goal, Johnathan Thurston realised this was his opportunity to make a statement on the big stage.

Late in the post-match ceremony, having earlier already addressed the ANZ Stadium crowd, the legendary Cowboys halfback made a very calculated request.

“The last thing I want to say is that North Queensland deserves a new stadium,” Thurston said.

And after the way he performed in Sunday night’s memorable 17-16 golden point victory against the Broncos, the stadium should be named after him.

Queensland’s State Labor Government has pledged $100 million towards a new “superstadium” in Townsville’s CBD but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project would need to be scaled back without the support of the Federal Government.

So it was no coincidence our new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was standing just metres away from Thurston on Sunday night when the Clive Churchill Medallist made the statement.

#NRLGrandFinal Thurston: "...the last thing I want to say is that North Qld deserves a new stadium..." looks meaningfully at PM Turnbull.

— Joan Evatt (@Boeufblogginon) October 4, 2015

New @nthqldcowboys chant: 'pay up Malcolm pay up' @TurnbullMalcolm #Thurstonstadium

— Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) October 4, 2015

I think Jonathan Thurston will get a new stadium. What a legend. Fantastic game #NRLGF

— Jenny Brockie (@JenBrockie) October 4, 2015

What Thurston wants, Thurston will get. NQ get ready for a new stadium.

— Sean Tobin (@seantobin_au) October 4, 2015

Thurston campaigning for a new stadium for nth #Qld in victory speech ... Well he certainly had everyone's attention! #NRLGF @nthqldcowboys

— Blythe Moore (@Blythe_Moore) October 4, 2015

Time to build the THURSTON STADIUM in Townsville 😊👍

— Hans Sommerfeld (@HansSommerfeld) October 4, 2015

Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini said the club was set to meet with Turnbull to discuss funding for the arena.

“We’re meeting with the Prime Minister in Canberra in two weeks time for a new stadium,” Lancini told AAP.

“We’ll certainly be telling him exactly what he needs to do in north Queensland.

“We’re only a regional city, but (Sunday night) just reinforces the fact that north Queensland is a powerhouse in rugby league.”

Former Cowboys chief executive Peter Jourdain has said the proposed 25,000-seat stadium as a standalone project would cost $200 million, but that figure would rise to $300 million for a precinct that also included and entertainment centre and convention centre.

“For the whole thing to be funded there will be need to be state as well as federal funding,’’ Jourdain told the Courier Mail in May.

“We’ve been saying that all along. I see the Premier as strongly endorsing that.

“We’ve been speaking to them (federal government departments), both at NRL level and at Cowboys level.’’

Thurston kicks the winning field goal in one of the greatest grand finals ever played.

NRL boss Dave Smith has toured the proposed Ross Creek site, and said the new complex would be a boon for the Cowboys club and Townsville community.

“The NRL has pushed strongly for a new stadium in Townsville,” Smith said.

“It is a great initiative for Townsville which will generate jobs, breathe life into the precinct and provide the city with a world-class sporting facility.

“It also means the Cowboys will have one of the best stadiums in the NRL and this can only encourage more fans to watch their team live at the ground.”

The Cowboys currently play their home games out of 1300SMILES Stadium, located 17km outside the Townsville CBD. It has come under criticism for its sub-standard facilities and public transport issues.

Townsville Enterprise has been lobbying for funding for the stadium and entertainment centre and its CEO Patricia O’Callaghan responded to Thurston’s comments on Monday.

“This has been an ongoing campaign for funding to build a desperately needed facility for a region that is now home to two national premiership teams,” O’Callaghan said.

“They deserve it, their fans deserve it and this community deserves it.

“We heard the [Channel 9] commentator say the Prime Minister put his hand up to shout a new stadium and we hope the success of the Cowboys helps secure the funds we need to give them a facility they deserve.”

Originally published as Cowboys hero Johnathan Thurston’s post-grand final request