in New South Wales, to be honest with you.

So it's, uh, I took that to the state government, uh, at the time, and, uh, I was like, "If we're getting those type of behavioral changes with 20 hours of content, how about we redesign the program and run it over 10 weeks and try and re-engage these young people back into school, into mainstream schooling?" So we got some funding to do that.

Uh, got some out- great outcomes, uh, with that, re-engaging kids back into school, um, you know, diverting them away from the, the justice system, um, you know, emotional regulation, healthy relationships.

Um, yeah, so that was something that I'm extremely passionate about because I was one of those kids going down that path and, um, I share that with them, and when I did my autobiography, I was contemplating whether putting that in there, but I thought, you know what? If, uh, I can do it with the support network I had around me, it's important to put that out there and, you know, with the right support network, uh, you know, other children and, you know, other young people can break that cycle as well, and that's what I want JTA to be.

Um, so yeah, now I've been to Canberra to hopefully, uh, get some more funding to be able to run the program in schools.

So I've also done a partnership with James Cook University to co-design this program now to be run in schools.

So extremely excited about what lies ahead for the academy and yeah, that's where I put a lot of my energy into now.

As we say, but it's so bloody important.

Hey, hey, hey, JT, if memory serves me correct, didn't you get up onto a stage in what a new stadium? Haven't you got a brand new joint up in Townsville

too? Yeah, that's correct.

A $350 million brand new stadium, actually.

So they listen to you in Queensland, but no one's listening to Gal.

That's called influence.

I guess what, hey, boys, I reckon we should do a bet for the game tonight with Gal.

What are you doing?

Put something up right now and I'll be up for it.

You're a former Bulldog yourself I want to ask you about Lockie Galvin there's always been a lot of focus on Lockie what have you made of his form this season for the Dogs?

Yeah, he's been good in patches.

I suppose like most of the players in that team, they've been good in patches.

Yeah, he's got all the skills to be a seven, I believe.

You know, I watched him very closely a few weeks ago when they played the Roosters and he really played like a genuine number seven where he was organising, you know, his edge and, you know, he was on the ball and going play for play for a play and that's what you need from your half when you're attacking in that red zone.

You need him to, you know, be touching the ball two, three times every OK, the new kick-off trial, it's going to be on display again tonight.

The team that concedes points decides whether they kick off or receive.

What are your thoughts on this appointment?

How good was that?

Oh, how emotional.

Geez, I'm already an emotional person as it is.

And yes, I was sitting there watching him walk the boys out in tears.

Got to coach Joy in that Origin Arena.

So, yeah, he's been a wonderful servant for the game of Rugby League.

And, you know, it's crushing to see what he's going through.

They might be dangerous.

Um, you know, if you finish in the top two, you got-

got-Two home games, if you win those two and then you go straight into the GF.

So, you know, such a luxury to be playing on your home turf.

Um, and obviously the top four teams, if they win the second week, they're playing, uh, again to get in the grand final.

So yeah, it's a huge, a huge thing to be able to finish in the top four because you need to, as history suggests.

That could be a good launch pad for 2027, right?

Yeah, definitely.

And that's what they did last week against the Cowboys as well.

Four?

Four, yes.

That's how lucky I am.

Does your wife know about the other one? Oh, that's pretty good for you.

You're a funny guy.

You're a funny guy, James.

I

think the St. George and the Tigers will be entertaining today.

And I said I didn't think they could win the comp purely and simply because I don't think they can match that effort they put in last week.

Well, that's the challenge for the Warriors, right? They've got an awesome supporter base all over Australia and obviously New Zealand.

So they're up against the premiership heavyweights who've had so much success over the last five or six years.

So they're the games that are really easy to get up for.

Obviously, you've got the finals as well, which are games that are very easy to get up for.

But the next month will be crucial to them heading into the finals, trying to get...

You know, they'll obviously be in the finals, but the top two, you know, get the first week of finals at home.

Um,

Can they bounce back?

Yeah, well, I hope so.

They definitely need to after being embarrassed last week at home by the Roosters.

So from all reports, they've had a good week.

They're jumping out of their skin and they're looking to bounce back.

So there's still a lot to play for for the Cowboys.

They're still in touch in distance with the eight.

JT as a Cowboys great yourself you look shattered after that game up in Townsville last week on the nine coverage did you speak to the team at all this week to try and pick them

So this is a really vital game for them.

Yeah, it certainly is, uh, for both teams.

So, um, yeah, look, uh, Wayne will have the bunnies ready to fire and obviously Bellyache will have Uh, a Melbourne Storm ready to fire.

Uh, they were pretty poor last week against Canberra and the Melbourne Storm, so you know, they'll be looking to come out here and make a real statement and try and kickstart a run towards the finals.

You know, the origin period is all done and dusted now, and teams will be looking where they're sitting on the ladder, the points differential and, you know, what they need to do to, uh, climb the ladder and yeah, this is a huge opportunity for both teams.

Uh, can they fill those holes, JT?

Uh, yeah, I reckon they can.

Uh, obviously they're world-class players.

What does it mean to sit atop of those guys?

yeah like like you mentioned i played alongside a couple of those boys um that finished you know that was second and third and i grew up watching those lads that you that you just mentioned and um yeah rugby league was always huge in our household um mum's one of 13 a proud indigenous woman that led the way for our family as well and had all the uncles in the backyard roughing me up and you know if I was ever soaking they'd go get back out there and play so yeah it's extremely a proud achievement for me to be voted by the fans and yeah it's a very humbling I'm extremely proud of my Indigenous heritage and you know I'm very comfortable in my own skin and I know that I've got an opportunity to give back to the community as well and that's what I do with the Jonathan Thurston Academy.

How have you pulled up after what happened last Wednesday night at Suncorp?

Yeah, still probably disappointed like most Queenslanders.

You know, I've watched the game back a couple of times and I didn't see that performance coming with the preparation that we had during the week.

So full credit to Loz and the Blues.

They come up there with the game plan and really put some pressure on us.

And, you know, it's hard enough winning NRL games with 14 errors, let alone a State of Origin game.

From a Queensland perspective, it doesn't get much better.

No, it certainly doesn't.

I thought our first half...

We just lacked a little bit of punch through the middle and a bit of cohesion as well.

So, you know, a kicking game wasn't where it needed to be either.

So the Blues were bringing it out of the backfield and some not the right areas that we wanted to put them in.

And, you know, the message was really simple from Bill, was to get to our style of footy.

I mean, is he stamping himself as a potential 10-year origin player here?

From a Queensland perspective, it doesn't get much better.

No, it certainly doesn't.

I thought our first half, we just lacked a little bit of punch through the middle and a bit of cohesion as well.

So, you know, a kicking game wasn't where it needed to be either.

So...

The Blues were bringing it out of the backfield and from not the right areas that we wanted to put them in.

And, you know, the message was really simple from Bill.

I mean, is he stamping himself as a potential 10-year origin player here?

Maybe I'm wrong, but, jeez, I thought they were impressive.

Yeah, they have been.

I think a turning point in their season was that Parramatta game up in Townsville where, you know, they were up by eight, I think, with 17 minutes to go and they were still attacking the game and going after it where, you know, you need to really be thinking about how you're closing it out.

So, you know, their error rate has certainly dropped since that game.

They're coming out of the backfield with their two centers, Jackson Purdue and Tommy Chester creating some ruck speed for him, and then they're playing off the back of that.

Jake Clifford has been enormous for him in the absence of Tom Dearden as well with his picking game.

So last week against the Bunnies, that was probably a 15-minute period there in the second half.

If you're the halfback in that Queensland side, you know, do you have a sense of positivity coming out of that game given, you know, the 60 minutes of dominance that Queensland had?