A proud Gunggari man, former rugby league footballer Johnathan Thurston AM is a legend in Australia’s sporting history.

Across his remarkable career on the field, Johnathan collected a substantial number of wins and awards for his athletic ability, and in 2015 he went from captain to community hero when he led the Cowboys to win the Premiership.

In 2019, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia, and in 2023, was inducted into Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame. 

Since retiring, Johnathan continues to inspire young Australians to strive for success across all areas of their lives, including in sport, education and in their professional careers. He founded the JT Academy to create stronger employment and training initiatives to assist in closing the gap.