Bloke In A Bar - Johnathan Thurston

I had the honour of sitting down with rugby league legend and icon Johnathan Thurston.
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0:00 JT on the podcast
0:50 Johnathan Thurston Academy
10:24 Thoughts on the state of the game today
12:08 Growing up
17:52 Moving to Sydney and getting a train and trial
24:33 Promoted to Bulldogs first grade squad
28:42 2004 Grand Final
33:51 Decision to go to the Cowboys and 2005 Grand Final
43:41 Origin debut 2005 and the Origin dynasty
54:35 Pledging allegiance to Australia and his Test career
58:26 Indigenous All Stars
1:00:58 4 time Dally M winner
1:02:26 Nearly signing with Penrith
1:05:10 2015 Grand Final
1:21:16 Clive Churchill
1:22:23 Watching the 2017 Grand Final from the sideline
1:25:51 Paul Green
1:27:35 Retirement regret
1:27:51 Post career
1:30:33 Matty Bowen
1:34:04 Final questions

[@swimcoachasia4978]

In 2015 I was watching the GF in a bar in Bangkok. Nearly ran through the TV when Feldt scored. My son was born 2 weeks later and his middle name is Thurston. JT signed a copy of his birth certificate and sent through a signed steeden. Treasure.

[@deepseaburials]

Outstanding!

[@lkuc06]

That worth a brag 👌🏽

[@Alig3388]

What's his first name??

[@MS-xn8ub]

Bloody beautiful brah

[@petergriffiths5537]

In my opinion, he is the GOAT. The GOAT isn't always about the skills, but the inspiration they offer to others. And this bloke is the most inspirational player I've ever seen.

[@samdavis456]

When both of your dads sit down and chat with each other 😭😭😭😭😭

[@bartcolen]

I am an American NQL tragic (I used to live in Brisbane). I was going through a hugely dark time emotionally and that 2015 season honestly meant the world to me. It was almost like their resilience as a team helped to carry me. Michael Morgan had become the team ambassador for the State of Mind program and I sent an email to him via the club thanking him for his efforts. Wouldn't you know it? He actually emailed me back personally, which I appreciated enormously. Of course, it also spoke volumes to his class as a person. So, for me, the Cowboys are FAR more than just my football team. And, again, that 2015 season truly kept me a safe stone's throw from the abyss. Many, many thanks to all involved and, of course, that includes another class act, the future Immortal, Johnathan Thurston. It might sound trite, but when people say things like, "It's more than just a game", I could not agree more fully! I love my team and could never repay them fully for what they did for this lone American doing it pretty tough watching his boys through a dodgy, far-past-its-prime old laptop in Florida.

[@breal8939]

Deadly mate

[@Odd1x]

Gigitty! Stoked for ya Beak. Certified bangers on the way with Nine's talent 😍

[@aaron_simpson]

This man single handedly changed the way viewed the game growing up. No bigger raw competitor in the games history, the amount of games he willed over the line. He's right up there with the Greatest, there's absolutely no doubt about that 🐐🙌🏼 Thanks again Kempy for what you've built, there's no way we'd get this content from anywhere else. This and the Hynes episode are my favourites 🤝🏻

[@jadethompson5269]

Just paused this and went and watched a Matty Bowen highlight reel. Fuck me! I’d almost forgot. He is the most elusive player on the field ever! He carved up like no other. Shame he wasn’t there for the premiereship. Imagine Mango at fullback in that team! Tate had some top speed too. Who wins between Kempy and Tate? Great interview.

[@neithermannormachine]

Probs kempy for straight line speed BUT remember Rabs call from origin game 3 - 2006. “Tate goes for the pedal!” So good

[@user-ht9mh4cm3f]

There's a generation of Cowboys supporters who got into the team because of Mango. Might not have a career worthy of one, but if I ever saw a Matty Bowen statue I'd salute that MFer and never question it.

[@Some4101Derr]

So keen for this

[@jimboslice75]

That finish to the grand final in 2015, will forever give me goosebumps! 🥶

[@rodneymatthews1891]

one of your best ever interviews Kempy. loved it. As a Penrith fan and proud indigenous man i was devo when he didn't sign. I got inside word at the time that we signed JT and the it would be announced soon. However, he still remained one of my all-time favorite players even though he stayed in NQ.

[@trubyssot]

As soon as I saw the snip it on Facebook I couldn't wait to watch this got me bloke six-pack got my dinner watch the best sport podcast and the height that this channel has become is amazing love every moment of content and now the goat jt how good

[@LMAAAAYOOO]

This 9 deal could mean Locky, Joey, Freddy, Fatty and Billy on the podcast. Lets goo

[@abovelaundry]

brother this is the best , thank you and JT

[@AelanPasifika]

JT's such a legend....good to see the poddy making waves

[@stevvvvveperry]

I'm NSW through and through, but JT was always one of my favourite players.

[@cameronprichard5035]

Brilliant stuff teaming up with nine brilliant watch keep bringing the great content .

[@michaelgordon9924]

Mate great poddy. Can't wait for the great d lock to come on the poddy. Keep up the great work

[@LAMARC1]

Love the chat about what the indigenous game did for you! How you searched for your land and your people! Awesome chat brothers!

[@themancampbell]

i was at the 2015 gf, massive broncos fan, i was shattered on the night, what a game, what a player, best interview yet kempy

[@kundanpanday1988]

The real 🐐

[@fordlarkins7883]

Love the insight of how he kicked an missed the GF goal 🤯🤯 an the way he said I don't miss twice 😉 What a podcast loved it the man the legend JT 🙌 👏

[@christophertunusau3023]

Agree with you on - "I don't miss twice" that just hit the nail on the head, case close.

[@M1cko_]

How good!

[@lkuc06]

Great chat gentlemen

[@adzsportz]

One of the great yarns!

[@TimBoss2000]

What a legend

[@Tdkcollective]

KING OF THE NORTH !!!

[@Jvc611]

Acknowledgement of the "Frontier Wars" Unspoken Legend brother mad cuz!

[@samdavis456]

This is a break in the matrix

[@jakechristian3787]

Awesome Poddy Kempy!!

[@user-fv9ch4iv6z]

best episode he ever done so far. love the goat. bowen an him tied for fav player ever

[@elcucuy5304]

JT is a legend

[@devonbryant2946]

The lads

[@telfordtahau7151]

This was awesome now bring Brad Billy and Joey to the Podcast lesssssssgooooo

[@kingandrewjoeyjohns]

Great to peak into the mind of the second greatest halfback of all time

[@nomisyed3208]

Thurston > Johns

[@breal8939]

Behind Langer 😉

[@julianalderson3938]

Still remember him bulldogs just fast. N became a legend

[@TheQueenslander97]

YES KEMPY THIS IS GOATED

[@adamhamilton667]

Damn this was good

[@julianalderson3938]

Those bulldogs early shows how good

[@roaman8532]

🔥🔥🔥

[@treybingarape3688]

I get what both Gal and Gus are saying, In saying that Gal is spot on and Gus’s version of a new system goes from “all power to the players” to “no power at all to the players” which is stupid. There’s clearly a middle ground that needs to be agreed upon with the RLPA

[@qwickvids1140]

My fav Qlder. Uptheblues 🔵🔵🔵

[@TonyTreadaway23]

JT = Close to the GOAT

[@itsjesseb]

JT the GOATTTTTT

[@jenluisi]

❤❤❤

[@julianalderson3938]

Sorry love this. Thanks jusr easy

[@Juicepluggedin]

Kempy you really out did ya self just wondering g what happened to the cam smith part 2 ? 👀😂

[@LeonBianchi-lb9ty]

Keen

[@mitchsmith4906]

Just two goats sitting down having a chat

[@oxymaiz5662]

Neill Henry the only 1st grade coach that j.t has thats still alive

[@kaizokubro7398]

QUEENSLANDER!!!

[@Toohot619]

Now I’m really moist

[@julianalderson3938]

Really like it. Just fullas like jon pepple follow.

[@chantenkostov6644]

Should come back to play

[@mrmeek8654]

JT the definition of a true alpha

[@Toohot619]

I met JT Flex 💪

[@themanwithnothingtolose]

I am JT, Bigger Flex 💪

[@LiquidAcid1]

The Goat and JT

[@MungasaurusBravo69420]

Sorry JT but QLD won the 2007 series 2 nil for the first time, but its hard to remember every win

[@julianalderson3938]

He was great head vear but easy to c

[@NuriiG]

Goat x Beak ✊ Ps please don’t sell your soul to 9.

[@julianalderson3938]

Old man no idea.

[@toketaia6477]

❤️🫡

[@nodissdiss275]

Is he maori?

[@LeonBianchi-lb9ty]

Yep

[@DBASSDAN]

You must be joking

[@LeonBianchi-lb9ty]

​@@DBASSDAN he is his dad is Maori and mum is Aboriginal

[@lkuc06]

He sure is, he was approached to play for NZ but made the smarter decision

[@haydnmartin1477]

Watched this after Kempy mentioned Rabs. The goat kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpzFY4J5hdGhnac

[@julianalderson3938]

Sounds so bad but dont no much. N im white?

[@DrunkenPound]

Don't want to sound like a troll, but those colourway of those Bloke jerseys are ugly.

[@murrknn9501]

Love Thurston but on a podcast listening to him say Ahhhhh umm ahhhh ummm kinda every sentence made me sick

[@lauifisaufoisamoa]

Holy smokes imagine if he came to the panthers, Cleary would have learned under JT

[@mhh8072]

Onya bala kempy