North Queensland Cowboys great Johnathan Thurston flew back home to be with his family after he was left “absolutely devastated” by the news that his former coach, Paul Green, had died aged 49.
Key points:
- Johnathan Thurston was due to appear on Nine’s Thursday night football coverage, but instead flew home to be with his family
- The Cowboys play the Roosters in Sydney on Saturday night
- A minute’s silence is being held before every NRL game this round
On Channel Nine’s coverage of the Panthers-Storm game on Thursday night, Thurston, the co-captain and Clive Churchill medallist of Green’s premiership-winning Cowboys side, was absent.
Cameron Smith said he spent a few hours with Thurston on Thursday afternoon before his friend, colleague and former Maroons teammate returned home to be with his family and his beloved North Queensland community.
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“[Thurston] was absolutely devastated, as were many of the players and his teammates in that Cowboys outfit coach led by Paul Green,” Smith said.
“We just want to send our best wishes to all those players and particularly our mate JT. We feel for you, as the entire rugby league community do.
“For everyone that was involved with Paul Green and his family, we wish you all the very best.”
Many other Cowboys premiership players posted messages of sadness on social media, including Michael Morgan, John Asiata and Ben Hannant.
North Queensland plays the Roosters in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
A minute’s silence will be held before every NRL game this round.
A minute’s silence was held before the Panthers vs Storm game on Thursday night, just hours after news of Green’s death emerged.(Getty: Cameron Spencer)
Source:: ABC News
