There will be some interesting discussion/debate when the next immortals are announced.
We have 6 immortals over a period of decades and possibly 4 legit immortals from the same era. My take on it is you cant have 6 immortals over 100 years and then put 4 in from 1 era.
Therefore, only one or two should realistically come from Thurston, Smith, Inglis, Slater and even Lockyer could be added to that.
I am going to say Smith is a certainly. I would lean towards Slater being second.
So there lies the problem. Is this era of footballers so so much better than the past 100 years to warrant 4 inductees?
In regard to Thurston, yes he is a great player but ......
The argument will be his state of origin and test appearances. But I will go as far to say that in the past decade, I have never seen nsw have weaker halves and no doubt this has contributed to QLD's record and therefore, thurston's legacy.
It's a far cry from the era of Stuart, johns, Toovey, Kimmorley as nsw halves in competition, Daley, Fittler, Mundine, Barrett , M. Johns, Florimo, with Allan Langer and Lockyer/Walters from qld.
Personally, I think thurston's legacy will benefit from a real lack of opposition in the halves. This has allowed qld to win more series than they should've (I am a qlder)and therefore gain more caps for Australia. When we look back on thurston's career will we be able to trot out other halves names like the 90's like fitler, Daley, Langer etc?
Don't get me wrong Thurston is a great player like langer, fittler, Daley or even Lockyer were great, but is Thurston's status enhanced, especially at rep level, because of a lack of opposition and weakness from nsw and other international teams?
If nsw had a Stuart, Johns, fittler, Daley and won more origins, would've thurston made Australia so regularly and rack up cap numbers? Would qld have such a legacy? Will we look back in years to come and rattle off the great names Thurston competed with?
Personally, if thurston leads the cowboys to a Premiership he will be a certainty in most eyes.
