Former league star visits again

LIFESTYLE

By NATHAN WOTI
ARGUABLY one of the greatest to have ever set foot on a rugby league field, Johnathan Thurston, widely known as JT, is cherished and loved by those who watch the game of rugby league and those who are die-hard fans of North Queensland Cowboys and the Queensland Maroons.
Recently the former rugby league super star made a surprise business trip to Port Moresby and Lae, where he visited the Fone Haus shops and conducted workshop with their emerging leaders. While his trip was purposely for business as an ambassador for the Fone Haus company, Thurston also spent memorable moments with his fans here in PNG.
A four time Dally M Player of the year and world cup champion, Thurston has inspired hundreds of young boys and girls to chase their dreams in hopes to one day be like him.
Thurston arrived in Port Moresby on Jan 16 and visited the Range View Fone Haus outlet where he was formally welcomed to the country by the staff.
He said he was excited to back in the country after 8 months, and said he was going to make the most out of the trip.
“The last time I was here was back in May 2022. I am excited to be back again and hopefully go out and about with fans and take lots of pictures,” the league legend said.
“I am here to train the Fone Haus emerging leaders about what it takes to be a good leader, and the example that they are going to set for members in their team.
“This will give them a good sense of direction and hopefully they can take the company to a whole new level.”
As usual, Thurston did not leave out his admiration for PNG rugby league as he discussed how the local players can make their way up to the top, which is the NRL.
“The boys here are natural. They are born to play rugby league,” he said.
“I’ve been in several trips up here where we play the Kumuls and I can honestly say, we’d get pretty bruised”, Thurston laughs.

He said that PNG have so much potential, and while the talks of having an NRL team was still a dream for both the PNG and Australia government, the local players can make it into any NRL or Super League team through the SP Hunters programme.
“I know the Australia Prime Minister was recently here and mentioned that PNG should have an 18th team in the NRL. I think it is good for the relations between the two governments to continue have those talks and hopefully something can come out from it.
“But the local boys have a pretty good system working for them in Hunters programme and I think this is the right pathway to get exposer and eventually they can end up in the NRL or the Super League.”
The rugby league legend flew the next day to Lae, Morobe, to meet the emerging leaders of Fone Haus where he shared with them his experience of being a leader on the field as well as of it.
Thurston focused his conversation with the emerging leaders of Fone Haus on being resilient, open-minded and take on challenges so as to leave a good impression for their team to adapt and follow.

As a sport mad city, Lae gave the rugby league’s future immortal, Thurston, a deserving welcome.
A huge crowd gathered in Lae’s top town just to get a glimpse of the star.
On his return to Port Moresby, he visited the PNG Family and Sexual Violence Unit which Thurston describe the experience has “wholesome”.
He explained that “these people do an amazing job in helping those who are vulnerable and affected in our society”.
He then made his last visitation to a special place which was quite close to his heart as a champion for charity and disadvantaged kids himself in Australia.
Thurston spent the whole afternoon of his last day in PNG with the kids at PNG Life Care Center.
He participated in fun games, had one on conversation with the kids and took pictures, a lot of pictures, with the them.
When asked about his experience in PNG, the 2015 NRL premiership winning captain said: “I have had fun over the last couple of days and have made lots of memories which I can’t wait to go back and share them with my family.
“I have always had fond memories of PNG back when the Kangaroos would travel over to play the Kumuls, and to get to still do it after footy is awesome.
“PNG has a special place in my heart and I hope to come back for another visit sometime in the future.”
Founder and Director for Life Care PNG Center, Collin Pake, spoke on-behalf of the children and the staff, and thanked Thurston and the Fone Haus team for visiting them.
Pake said the North Queensland Cowboys great, Thurston, had inspired many boys and girls who are currently relishing their dream in playing rugby league across PNG.
However, it is his other side, off-the field personally that more inspiring to the kids at the Life Care Center.
“We always know Thurston has a great rugby league player,” Pake said.
“But to see his other side as a truly genuine human being is remarkable.
“He is very down to earth and you can tell that this is something he likes to do outside of the field.
“Involving with the community, especially kids, is one of the aspects why Thurston is such a legend,” Pake said.

Life Care PNG Meets Their Hero
Pake, 43, from Enga is one of those few Papua New Guinean whom you will come across as genuinely kind and wise.
Pake quit his job back in 2016 to run a full-time care center for disadvantage children.
He and his family converted their family home into a center which houses the children as well as an office which caters for their administrative matters.
Pake said the Life Care Center PNG looks after disadvantage kids who are neglected, or whose parents had passed on and are left out on the streets.
“What others see as nuisances and eye sore in public roads and sidewalks, I see them as our nation’s future,” he said.
“Through the programmes we run nationwide, which is the Supportim Pikinini Programme, we have managed to send of four of our children here to university. And one has completed his studies and will graduate this year.
“This is our testimony, and the reason why we do what we do to help our own fellow Papua New Guineans.
“I truly believe in second chances.
“These kids are the future of our country and by investing in them, I know that we are investing in our country for our future to be bright.
“There are a lot of talks about change, and where the government wants the country to be in the future in-terms of economic development, infrastructures, law and order, politics and so forth. But how do we get there?
“I believe in generational change. If we can change a generation today, all these things we want to see in the future can be achieved. And it is no one-man job. We all must play a role, play a part”.
Pake said he is proud that for the first time they will have someone from the center graduate out from a university while four will began their tertiary education this year.
“And I want to thank everyone who puts a penny down in any of our small boxes inside shopping centers, hospitals and service stations. It is a collaborative effort to help our children, and save our future,” he added.
Pake and his family had given up their own family business and four-bedroom house. A sizeable land space area, in Port Moresby to run the Life Care Center.
The center looks after homeless and abandoned children.
Pake said one of his biggest wish is to see every child get the same opportunity in life and prosper.
“Meeting a champ like Thurston, this will give them all the boost they need to excel in life,” he said.
“It is inspiring to see him (JT) coming down to their levels and shared his own experiences in school and how he overcame his fears of being a shy kid to where he is today. I guess the rest we all know.
“You can see that the children enjoyed it and I thank Fone Haus for continue its’ partnership with the community, and with us, and for bringing Thurston to visit the children.”