Updated June 23, 2017 18:33:15

Photo: Thurston fought through the pain of a clearly injured shoulder in Origin II. (AAP: David Moir)

A buzzing home crowd at Lang Park for State of Origin III was supposed to set the scene for Johnathan Thurston's Maroons swansong, but his representative career has been cut short.

After pushing through a shoulder injury to help clinch a win in game two, the Queensland and Cowboys great is set to undergo surgery that will leave him sidelined him for months.

Relive some of JT's best moments in a Maroon jersey.

2005, game one, Lang Park

Photo: A fresh-faced Johnathan Thurston with Maroons team-mate Darren Lockyer in 2005. (AAP: Dean Lewins)

On his Origin debut, a 22-year-old Thurston kicked a field goal to pull Queensland level 20-all in the 77th minute and send the game into extra time.

A try from Matthew Bowen gave the Maroons the win. It was the first of many last-minute, game-saving kicks from Thurston.

2006, game three, Docklands Stadium

Photo: Johnathan Thurston and Adam Mogg during the winning game that sparked an eight-year reign for the Maroons. (AAP: Martin Philbey)

Queensland was down 14-4 with less than 10 minutes on the clock when Thurston broke the line and set up Brent Tate, who charged 60 metres to the try line.

The try would spark a Maroons comeback to take the series and begin eight years of Queensland dominance.

2008, game three, Olympic Stadium

Photo: Cameron Smith holds up Johnathan Thurston after winning the 2008 Origin title. (Cameron Spencer: Getty Images)

With the sides level 10-10 and less than 14 minutes to go, Thurston took on the NSW defence from his own half, throwing a dummy before setting up Billy Slater for the series-winning try.

2012, game three, Olympic Stadium

In 21 seconds, Thurston evaded a tackle on his own 20-metre line and bolted 35 metres before sparking a move that would eventually see him score from a Corey Parker offload one tackle later.

He then stepped up to convert and pull Queensland level in a man-of-the-match performance that sealed the series.

2015, game three, Lang Park

It was far from a close match, but it was Thurston's nine goals from nine attempts, three try-assists and involvement in five line-breaks that drove the 52-6 series deciding win.

2017, game two, Olympic Stadium

In his last Origin run, Thurston battled a shoulder injury nearly the entire game, but the limp left arm didn't stop him taking all three sideline conversions, including the decisive final kick which gave Queensland the 18-16 victory.

AAP

Topics: sport, rugby-league, state-of-origin, nrl, australia

First posted June 23, 2017 18:29:25