A shattered Johnathan Thurston has spoken publicly for the first time since the tragic death of Paul Green, saying he’s “sad” and “angry” and “it just doesn’t make sense”.
Thurston and Green joined forces to lift the Cowboys to their first NRL premiership in 2015, with the legendary halfback slotting a grand final field goal in golden point to clinch the Provan-Summons Trophy for North Queensland.
Last Thursday, Thurston was travelling to Sydney for his Channel Nine duties when he heard the news of Green’s death.
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The godfather of his kids, who was also a close mate of Green, called Thurston to deliver the gut-wrenching news.
Channel Nine bosses gave Thurston the weekend off and booked him an immediate flight back home.
He spoke publicly for the first time since Green’s death on Monday.
“Rollercoaster of emotions. It’s hard … I’m sad, I’m angry,” Thurston told 9News.
“I think of Amanda (Green’s wife) and the kids. It just breaks my heart.”
Thurston revealed 2015 grand final teammate Gavin Cooper had chatted to Green on the phone the night before his death.
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“He was still like the rock for everyone else,” Thurston said.
“He was saying, ‘Give me a call if you need to chat. You’ve got so much to live for. You’ve got health, family, kids’.
“So it just doesn’t make sense.”
But Thurston is also remembering the good times.
“He’d get a few under his belt and start singing ‘Ice Ice Baby’,” he said with a laugh.
“(That) was his go-to.
“He loved bringing people together.”
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