[3][4] Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All Stars representative, playing at halfback or five-eighth, and was a noted goal-kicker.

The JTAcademy provides a forum which encourages Australian youths to access the educational and vocational resources needed to secure meaningful employment.

Thurston was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, to a Gunggari (Indigenous Australian) mother and a New Zealand Māori father who also has English heritage.

According to Thurston's manager Sam Ayoub, the player had wanted to stay at Canterbury even if it had meant a diminished salary but had been told that leaving was the best option.

Thurston was selected to make his international debut for Australia in the 2006 Anzac Test against New Zealand off the interchange bench in the Kangaroos 50–12 win at Suncorp Stadium.

Thurston later recovered from his injury at the end of the regular NRL season and played for the Prime Minister's XIII[32][failed verification] before making the Australian squad for the Tri-Nations tournament.

In this match, with the scores locked at 12–12 and the game into its 2nd half of golden point extra time, a Thurston break allowed him to set Darren Lockyer up for the 16–12 series-winning try for The Kangaroos finishing his year on a high note.

[34] Thurston was again selected to play for the Australian national team at halfback in the 2007 Anzac Test match against New Zealand, kicking 5 goals from 6 attempts in the Kangaroos' 30–6 victory at Suncorp Stadium.

[36] Thurston led well as captain for the Cowboys and the team improved dramatically from the previous year to finish a strong third place on the ladder by the end of the regular season.

Unfortunately they fell one game short of the club's second grand final appearance losing 28–6 to the second-placed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in what was otherwise a successful year.

[39] At the conclusion of the 2007 season it was reported Thurston would require major shoulder surgery due to ongoing physical damage to his ligaments.

[48] In Australia's first match of the tournament Thurston, despite mourning the murder of his uncle in a Brisbane park less than 38 hours prior, put in a strong performance to be named man-of-the-match in the Kangaroos 30–6 win over the Kiwis at the Sydney Football Stadium.

[49][50] In the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final against New Zealand, Thurston played at halfback and kicked 2 goals in the 34–20 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

[51] Thurston was selected in the 2009 Anzac Test for Australia against New Zealand at halfback, scoring 2 tries and kicking 5 goals in the Kangaroos 38–10 win at Suncorp Stadium.

After the NRL season had ended, Thurston kicked seven goals from as many attempts as the Prime Minister's team defeated Papua New Guinea 42–18 in Port Moresby.

[61] A shoulder injury in Round 5 against the Wests Tigers in the Cowboys 23–16 loss at Dairy Farmers Stadium made Thurston sidelined for the 2010 Anzac Test.

[64] During a match in Round 12 against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Thurston was found guilty of swearing at the referee 8 times in regards to a forward pass decision against the Cowboys which aided in Manly winning 24–20.

[71] Thurston, who had to be driven off the field on the Medi-Cab initially feared he would be out for the rest of the season, however early prognosis claimed that with immediate surgery, he could be back by Round 25, and in time for a possible Cowboys finals appearance.

At the time of his injury, Thurston was leading the Dally M Medal ladder by two clear man-of-the-match performances (six points ahead of nearest rival Kieran Foran).

[78] In Round 6 against the Melbourne Storm, Thurston played his 150th NRL career club match for the Cowboys in the 42–18 loss at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

[79] In the 2012 Anzac Test against New Zealand, Thurston played at five-eighth, scored a try, kicked four goals from four attempts and was named man-of-the-match in the Kangaroos 20–12 win at Eden Park.

On 17 January 2014 Thurston was announced as 2013's Golden Boot Award winner following his prominence in Australia's World Cup and Queensland's State of Origin successes.

[92] Thurston played in the 2014 Anzac Test at five-eighth, kicking 5 goals in a man-of-the-match performance in Australia's 30–18 victory at the Sydney Football Stadium.

[97] Following the 2014 State of Origin Series, Thurston switched from five-eighth to halfback in Round 19 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Cowboys 36–18 win at Remondis Stadium.

[113] On 22 February 2016, Thurston was part of the North Queensland side that competed in the 2016 World Club Challenge against Super League champions Leeds, starting at halfback, scoring a try and kicked 5 goals in the Cowboys' 36–4 victory and he was named the man of the match, being awarded the Graham Murray Medal.

In the Four Nations final in which Australia won 34–8 against New Zealand, Thurston played a central figure in the win, starting the game at five-eighth and kicking five goals.

Queensland won game 2 in a close one with Thurston injuring his shoulder but scoring the winning points by kicking a goal to convert a late try.

All time highest point scorer in Australian test player Townsville Bulletin Fan Choice Award: 2014, 2015 In 2014, Thurston was made a life member of the North Queensland Cowboys.

In 2015, Thurston was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from James Cook University for his "outstanding service and exceptional contributions to the northern Queensland community.

"[123] In the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours, Thurston was made a Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to rugby league, and as a role model.