About Johnathan Thurston - Johnathan Thurston Academy

Managing Director Johnathan Thurston launched The Johnathan Thurston Academy in February 2018, with our key strength being our robust employment, community, and education engagement platforms and capability.

We are a powerful brand and a national ambassador of positive messaging. Johnathan Thurston is the major shareholder, Managing Director, and driver of the Academy who leads his team with a passion for his culture and our nation’s youth.

The Johnathan Thurston Academy aims to harness the potential of a powerful and positive networks for a sustainable long-term collaborative approach. Our programs encourage behavioural change, develop positive attitudes, and assist students in completing school and securing employment.

The Johnathan Thurston Academy is a community of learning through storytelling of personal growth and experience from one generation to the next. The Johnathan Thurston Academy participants achieve personal growth and life success through the inspiration of belief. However, the greatest lessons they learn from the Johnathan Thurston Academy and Johnathan’s messaging is learning how to inspire others to go on and achieve the same.

Johnathan Thurston Player Statistics

APPEARANCES

322

TRIES

POINTS

2222

Name:

Johnathan Thurston

Nickname:

Date of Birth:

25 April 1983

Birthplace:

Brisbane, QLD

Debut Club:

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Date:

08 June 2002

Opposition:

Penrith Panthers

Round:

Previous Clubs:

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, North Queensland Cowboys

Junior Club:

Souths Sunnybank

Johnathan Thurston, initially overlooked for his size, found success with the Bulldogs in 2002 before joining the Cowboys.

Despite initially coming off the bench, he showcased his brilliance, winning four Dally M Medals and leading the Cowboys to their first NRL title in 2015 with a memorable golden point field goal. Renowned for his playmaking skills and elusive show-and-go moves, Thurston played a crucial role in Queensland's State of Origin dominance and became the highest scorer for the Kangaroos. Despite a shoulder injury in 2017, he returned in 2018 to lead the league in try assists, demonstrating his enduring impact on the game.

Achievements of JT

National Rugby League

323 Games (29 Bulldogs, 294 Cowboys)
178 Wins (20 Bulldogs, 158 Cowboys)
90 Tries (10 Bulldogs, 80 Cowboys)
923 Goals (third‑most all‑time)
2222 Points (third‑most all‑time)
Premierships(Bulldogs 2004, Cowboys 2015)
The Deadlys Indigenous NRL Player of the Year Award 2013
Preston Campbell Medal (2010, 2017)
RLPA Player’s Champion Award (2005, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Arthur Beetson Medal (2017)
Provan‑Summons Medal (2014, 2015)
Clive Churchill Medal (2015)
Dally M Medal (2005, 2007, 2014, 2015)

State of Origin

37 Games (24 wins, 5 tries)
99 Goals (most all‑time)
220 Points (most all‑time)
Wally Lewis Medal (2008)
Peter Jackson Memorial Trophy (2012, 2017)

TESTS

38 Games (35 wins, 13 tries)
165 Goals (most for Australia)
382 Points (most for Australia)
Harry Sunderland Medal (2013)

Humanitarian Awards

Ken Stephen Medal (2012)
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, James Cook University (2015)
Australian Human Rights Commission Medal (2017)
Queensland Australian of the Year (2018)

World Club Challenge

Graham Murray Medal (2016)

Golden Boot Award

2011
2013
2015

Don’t Be Scared of Failing. Be Scared of Not Giving It A Go.

You might not be the biggest or the fastest, but you need to have that self belief that you're good enough

If you think you are outclassed, you are. You've got to think high to rise and you've got to be sure of yourself before you can win a prize.

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

When someone tells me I can’t do something, it’s like someone is having a dig at me and I just want to prove them wrong.

- Johnathan Thurston More About JT Academy

At Johnathan Thurston Academy, we warmly embrace every individual, embracing diversity in ethnicity, lifestyle, faith, orientation, and identity.

Recognise and honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their rich cultures, and advocate for their overall welfare.

Johnathan Thurston Academy supports young Australians and their families through employment initiatives and community programs.