Thurston’s biggest fan Purdue forging own Cowboys path
Jasper Bruce |
There was a time when the mere sight of Jonathan Thurston would bring Jaxon Purdue to tears.
But if North Queensland coach Todd Payten has his way, the two men will one day be mentioned in the same breath as stalwarts of the Cowboys.
Cowboys centre Purdue spent his childhood making the 800km round trip from his hometown Mackay to Townsville every other weekend to watch North Queensland play.
“I’ve really looked up to the Cowboys ever since I was six years old, when I started knowing what footy was,” the 19-year-old told AAP.
“I’d play my game in the morning, under-6s or under-7s, and then mum and dad would say, ‘Let’s go, we’re getting in the car’, because my auntie and uncle had an apartment up there.”
Coincidentally, Thurston – the Cowboys’ 2015 premiership hero and greatest-ever player – lived in the same apartment complex as Purdue’s extended family.
It led to more than one run-in for the budding young footy player, who couldn’t find the words to express to his idol how much the Cowboys meant to him.
“I used to cry when I saw him because I was so nervous. I never used to talk to him when I was young because I used to cry all the time,” Purdue said.
Fast forward 10 or so years, and Purdue is cementing himself as the Cowboys’ breakout young star of a new era, just as Thurston did on arrival from Canterbury two decades ago.
He was excellent in the defeat of Canberra that helped the Cowboys break their losing streak in round four and was again amongst their best in an upset defeat of Penrith on Friday night.
Purdue set up a try and scored another as his left edge waged assault on Penrith’s normally water-tight goal-line defence.
“I’ve always had a high opinion of him. He’ll be at the club for a long time,” Payten said.
“Good kid, from a good family, from our pathways system. I’m glad he’s ours.”
Even now, Purdue is sometimes lost for words when he runs into Thurston.
“It’s crazy, when I do promos and stuff and I’ll do it with him, I look next to myself and it’s like ‘Holy…’. That’s someone I’ve looked up to my whole life,” Purdue said.
There’s a chance Purdue will one day slot into the famous No.6 jersey that Thurston made his own during a 14-year career at the Cowboys.
Purdue is a five-eighth by trade but has started his career at left centre given co-captain Tom Dearden’s hold on his preferred spot.
He’s happy to play wherever Payten will have him though, even spending time at lock in Queensland Cup last year despite giving away more than 30kg to some of his rival middles.
“If I’m not playing in the halves in this team, I want to be playing in the team somewhere else,” Purdue said.
“If (Payten) is comfortable putting me at centre, I don’t really mind, as long as I get to play. I’m loving my time in first grade.”
And as for the long drives from Mackay to Townsville? Mr and Mrs Purdue are still packing up the car to come and watch the Cowboys.
They haven’t missed any of their son’s home games yet.
“They’re my biggest supporters, I’m so grateful for them,” Purdue said.
AAP
