Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian rugby league player and co-captain of National Rugby League team the North Queensland Cowboys. During his NRL career he has frequently been cited as rugby league's best player.ohnathan Thurston has not missed a State of Origin match since making his debut in Game I, 2005. He is the only player to feature in every single match of Queensland's famous run of eight consecutive State of Origin series victories. In 2014, Thurston was made a life member of the North Queensland Cowboys.