The surefire way to understand the NRL Cowboys and State of Origin great JT
My lasting memory of Australian Rugby League great Johnathan ‘JT’ Thurston is kicking a dream goal to win a grand final for the Cowboys in extra time.
As that ball sailed between the posts in 2015 millions jumped to their feet cheering and JT wrote National Rugby League history.
In 2018, after his retirement from the game, came Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography.
The book was written with the help of sports journalist James Phelps and published by HarperCollins Publishers (Australia).
I recently listened to the autobiography as an audiobook and found it a story of highs, lows, passion and tears.
Much like a grand final!
Keep reading to find out more and how we can learn from the book as life-story writers.
Becoming Johnathan Thurston
JT begins the book by painting a picture of his childhood in Brisbane, Queensland.
He writes about becoming a ball boy for his father’s football games at age four and playing backyard footy and cricket with his large family.
Therefore JT soon progresses to club league and becomes addicted to perfecting kicks and moves.
Desperate to be selected for the national league he is disappointed to be overlooked for being “too small” as others around him are picked.
Poor grades, big nights out and hanging with the wrong crowd don’t help.
JT has to dig deep to turn things around and chase his dream of playing professionally.
When this finally happens so much opportunity is unlocked: playing for his beloved Bulldogs, grand final berths, State of Origin series dominance, representing Australia, coveted awards, staggering playing contracts, connecting with his Indigenous heritage and even finding love.
It’s a wild ride of excruciating fitness, bone-crushing tackles, the strong bonds of mateship, controversy and super stardom.
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Lessons from a King
Parts of this book must have taken enormous guts for JT to write.
Lots of skeletons are uncovered.
He comes clean about stealing from cars at night with teen friends, drinking too much too often on Saturday nights, plus several run-ins with the law.
Some of these stories have never been made public by JT but he is adamant they are essential to helping others stop, think and change.
The second element of the book that I loved was JT’s emotional honesty.
Here is an award-winning footy player, tough as tough, admitting more times than I can count to crying on and off the field.
Crying from happiness, pain, disappointment, heartbreak.
But he doesn’t stop there.
JT lets us know that even as a super player he had self-doubts and didn’t feel worthy of accolades.
This is clear from the first page of the book when he talks about the emotions running through his mind as he prepares to kick that grand final goal.
I remember watching that game live on TV and thinking how much the consummate pro he was delivering under pressure.
Clearly there was much we the fans did not know.
After reading JT’s blow-by-blow account, his writing honesty might have shattered some illusions but his transparency and authenticity make us respect him even more.
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A joint effort
Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography is 416 pages divided into sections and chapters that are roughly chronological.
The book was written by award-winning sports journalist and author James Phelps.
“I thought I knew everything about this Australian sporting legend,” Phelps said.
“I didn’t. No one does. But soon they will.
“JT gave me access to all his personal files for the project and all the knockbacks, contracts, and deals will be laid bare for the first time.”
JT said he was honoured to partner with HarperCollins and hoped people would enjoy reading his story.
“My story started in the backyard of a housing commission house in Sunnybank Hills,” JT said.
“All these years later and despite my achievements, I am still blown away and completely humbled that people want to read my story.”
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Final say: Johnathan Thurston
JT’s book is not just for those interested in football.
It is for anyone who has a dream and is grinding away to make it happen.
JT’s story inspires us and gives us hope to keep pushing, keep moving, to keep taking action.
I highly recommend the book for its fast-paced and no-nonsense style but most importantly for the heart JT and Phelps have clearly captured on the page.
“The mistakes I have made in my life have helped shape me into the person I am today as much as the things I got right,” JT writes in the book.
Thurston is a league legend but his influence looms even larger after reading his life story.
Happy writing and reading!
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This article first appeared on the website Forever Young Autobiographies.com.
