Thurston an Immortal? ?

G

Goose

New member
This seems to be the debate going around at the moment.
My vote is a resounding no.

Immortal status is reserved for those who stand above the greats, for me Thurston is not that player.

Thurston has played with a pretty good bunch of players at the Cowboys and not once finished the regular season in the top 4\. An immortal would have led them to the top 4 a few times.

Comps are hard to win, and need luck, it is a gap in the resume, but foe me not as significant as lack of regular season excellence.

He is always towards the top of the error count snd missed tackle count. Last time I checked he was leading both for this year. Sure they target him and he handles the ball most and all that, but not good enough for an immortal.

He has been part of a great side for QLD and won 8 series, lots of great players did this, we can't make them All immortals.
I'm not even sure he is the best of them. Slater, Inglis, Lockyer and Smith all stand with him as greats, none for me are immortals. All greats, no doubt.
 
Thurston is n excellent Half/ 5/8 but I have reservations about an immortal for the same reasons as Goose, also he has stood out in a time when there are few really top halves around , so imo it has made him seem even better. He's certainly better than I ever thought he'd be, but an immortal, no
 
Sadly, as commentators we all seem to have difference in opinion in what makes a player in the Immortal echelon. This needs greater clarification first before the debate can go further. The RLW needs to get some script to this very soon, so it's clearer.

Personally, I don't see Thurston at this level.
 
The current 8 Immortals is enough,adding more will just begin to cheapen the esteem in which being classed as an Immortal holds. Maybe the NRL should go down the Yank trail and start up a Hall Of Fame instead for current and future players to aspire to. IMO Hall Of Fame's are pretty cheesy though….you end up with more players in them than getting left out of them. Thurston is closer to being at the Immortal level than anyone else currently in the NRL.
 
Lets wait until his career is over before making any judgements

He might have won 3 back to back premierships by then

The other issue would be if he wins another Dally M and overtakes Johns , what then ??

Most would agree that Thurston is in Johns class and he is an Immortal

As I said lets wait until he retires
 
He has to be an immortal on personality and services to the game alone - not even taking into consideration his football prowess. One in a million. Biggest heart in the NRL. An ambassador for the game, a clean skin - no secret life - If Andrew Johns is an immortal then Jonathan Thurston is an NRL god.
 
@happy tiger said:
Lets wait until his career is over before making any judgements

He might have won 3 back to back premierships by then

The other issue would be if he wins another Dally M and overtakes Johns , what then ??

Most would agree that Thurston is in Johns class and he is an Immortal

As I said lets wait until he retires
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I dont put him anywhere near Johns or Wally, the only 2 immortals Ive seen play. No one else in that time comes close to them either.

I never saw the rest, but the stories are amazing. Fulton and Bozo, changed clubs, success followed and those St George guys just won everything….. I assume that Churchill was just as amazing given his status in the game.

I put him on the next level with Sterlo, Fittler, Locky, Meninga, Slater, Smith plus a few others in the greats class, but not immortal.

Would it surprise most of you to know that in the 5 years prior to Benji going to Rugby that Thurston made more error than Benji, at the same time knocking up less Tries, TA's, line breaks and line break assists.

If any of these current crop get immortal status, it ruins the whole thing
 
@Goose said:
@happy tiger said:
Lets wait until his career is over before making any judgements

He might have won 3 back to back premierships by then

The other issue would be if he wins another Dally M and overtakes Johns , what then ??

Most would agree that Thurston is in Johns class and he is an Immortal

As I said lets wait until he retires

I dont put him anywhere near Johns or Wally, the only 2 immortals Ive seen play. No one else in that time comes close to them either.

I never saw the rest, but the stories are amazing. Fulton and Bozo, changed clubs, success followed and those St George guys just won everything….. I assume that Churchill was just as amazing given his status in the game.

I put him on the next level with Sterlo, Fittler, Locky, Meninga, Slater, Smith plus a few others in the greats class, but not immortal.

Would it surprise most of you to know that in the 5 years prior to Benji going to Rugby that Thurston made more error than Benji, at the same time knocking up less Tries, TA's, line breaks and line break assists.

If any of these current crop get immortal status, it ruins the whole thing
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Click to expand...

Agreed.
And I think to be an immortal now you need to be almost undoubtedly and by far the best player of your era. Whilst I think Thurston is probably the best in the game at the moment I wouldn't put him up there as an immortal.
 
@AmericanHistoryX said:
He has to be an immortal on personality and services to the game alone - not even taking into consideration his football prowess. One in a million. Biggest heart in the NRL. An ambassador for the game, a clean skin - no secret life - If Andrew Johns is an immortal then Jonathan Thurston is an NRL god.
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The people of Coffs Harbour say Hello…
 
Best player in the current game. Need to see how the rest of his career pans out to be considered. Leading the Cowboys to a maiden premiership would go a long way.

As others have said before not in the class of Johns or Lewis. Too young to remember the other members of the elite club.

I would also add Brett Kenny to the above list of players just under immortal classification.
 
Within the last year I've also heard Inglis and C Smith touted as Immortals. Kind of ruins the point if every bloke and his dog gets a run. Players shouldn't even be eligible until 5 years after retirement, so everyone can take a deep breath.
 
I'd go Beaver Menzies above all mentioned so far.
Maybe not in line with the others in ability but over 500 games played including nrl, esl and rep footy.
In saying that I don't think he should be either.
 
His only success has been when he's had the worlds best backline along side him. A huge NO for me. Ps not sure about the previously mentioned cleanskin. His time at Canterbury clouded.

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If Inglis is an immortal then im done here bahahahah that bloke is an excuse for a footballer. He had a good season at fullback then the rest of his career was flashes of brilliance. Where is he this year?
 
@grrrrrrrrrr said:
His only success has been when he's had the worlds best backline along side him. A huge NO for me. Ps not sure about the previously mentioned cleanskin. His time at Canterbury clouded.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_
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I just like the fact he gives his headgear to some kid after every game.
The guy is a legend.
What a wonderful gesture.
A total football package

_Posted using RoarFEED Android 1.2.3_
 
I'm a very proud NSWelshman, but if Mal Meninga is not the next immortal, I'll give it away. He should have been last time!

Has been in the very, very top level of club players. Won a premiership.
He has been in the very, very top level at SOO with Queensland as a player.
Has been one of the best ever for the Kangaroos as a player, then as a leader.
Has coached QLD (unfortunately) into greatness.
Has coached other nations for the good of the game.
Has been a standout in tries scored, goals kicked and points amassed.
Could single headedly destroy the opposition multiple times.

Not sure what else makes an immortal. Everyone gets the tag these days which should be reserved for the absolute greats during AND after their playing days.

Thurston isn't even close…yet... or maybe never.
 
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