Jt's Emotional Triumph

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday October 27, 2008

Jacquelin Magnay

AT breakfast yesterday Australian coach Ricky Stuart asked his key playmaker Johnathan Thurston if he was "still sweet". Thurston didn't miss a beat before replying, "Yeah, I am ready to roll".

And roll he did. In last night's World Cup match against New Zealand, the Australian halfback was deeply involved, was the most dangerous player on the field and created constant opportunities for his team.

Yet Thurston, 25, had been shattered at the sudden death of his uncle, Richard Saunders, in the early hours of Saturday and there had been concerns in the day preceding the match whether Thurston would have the mental fortitude and concentration to steer the Australian side around the Sydney Football Stadium.

Saunders, the brother of Thurston's mother, died after being attacked in a Brisbane park and two of his friends, aged 47 and 53 were also injured. Last night, a grieving Thurston played unaware Queensland police had charged two 17-year-old boys with grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm in company while armed, in relation to the attack.

"I would like to thank all my teammates for their support over the past 24 hours, tonight gave me some chance to let out some emotion and I ask you respect my request for some privacy at this time," Thurston said in a statement read out by Stuart after the game.

Thurston was able to put his family grief aside for 80 minutes and was a key man in the game. He kicked a penalty goal, setting up a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute and then linked with skipper Darren Lockyer to spread the ball wide, creating the first try for Greg Inglis.

The only evidence of a lack of concentration was a couple of grubber kicks that handed possession to New Zealand, when a high bomb may have been a preferred option.Yet later in the game Thurston again found a gap, refused to let the ball die and flicked the ball inside to Billy Slater for the team's fourth try midway through the second half. After the game Thurston, along with a couple of his teammates, drew the short straw to provide urine samples for drug testing.

Thurston had decided not to take management's offer to step aside from last night's game after conferring with family and friends. When he was told of the death returning to the team's Coogee hotel on Saturday morning, Thurston immediately sought coach Stuart for advice.

The two had several chats throughout the weekend and at one stage Thurston spoke to a counsellor. "But he is a tough kid," Stuart said, noting that Thurston's emotional turmoil had taken a lot of energy.

Lockyer said the halfback was a very tough competitor.

"To put all of that aside for 80 minutes was just a great effort," he said.

Thurston has told friends he might return to Queensland for Saunders' funeral, expected to be held at the end of this week. All of the Kangaroo players wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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