This was published 10 years ago
Johnathan Thurston's year to remember
North Queensland maestro Johnathan Thurston has capped off a year to remember by claiming a record third Golden Boot award as the world's best rugby league player.
The 32-year-old beat New Zealand fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and England fullback Zak Hardaker to win the coveted award.
And in doing so the star halfback completed a perfect season where he led the Cowboys to their maiden NRL premiership, steered Queensland to a ninth State of Origin series win in 10 years and claimed a fourth Dally M medal.
Here are some of the highlights of Thurston's stellar season.
There were also milestones with JT notching his 250th NRL game.
But the year began on a sour note when the Cowboys lost their first three games.
Fittingly, it was a JT masterclas against Melbourne that broke the streak...
which was a common theme, such as his late field goal to beat Canberra.
His match-winning golden point field goal broke the deadlock...
to give the Cowboys their maiden premiership and seal his place among the games' greats.
JT won the coveted Clive Churchill medal as the grand final man of the match.
It topped off a peerless year for the master halfback...
