Qld's 12-step program

[Aractus]

From State of Origin 2015: Queensland favourite Johnathan Thurston played for NSW first, writes Paul Kent

Like the others, though, Thurston is undergoing the long, torturous program to purge himself of blue blood and emerge as a fully-fledged Queenslander, a journey that is every bit as difficult as it sounds.

It is a well-kept secret that written at the bottom of every XXXX can are the instructions to Queensland’s very own 12-step program.

The program is modelled on the highly successful Alcoholics Anonymous program but is less widely known, given its highly embarrassing nature.

Moreso for Thurston, who played for NSW not once, but twice, during the 2002 season.



Unfortunately, though, not all the steps are complete, as you will see after we exclusively reveal Queensland’s 12 step program:

1. We admitted we were powerless over the Blue jersey - that our lives had become unmanageable.

Thurston realised he had no choice but to play for the Blues. He was contracted to Canterbury at the time and living in Sydney.

2. We came to believe that a Power greater than Himself, called “Mal”, could restore him to his sanity.

They say every journey begins with the first step and, with that, he signed with the North Queensland Cowboys.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of Mal, as we understood Him.

He ate a banana and was born a Queenslander again.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Thurston is struggling here. He still refuses to admit that Justin Hodges’ shepherd in Game III 2012, which won Queensland the game and so the series, really was a shepherd.

5. Admitted to Mal, to ourselves, and to another human being, namely our Queensland teammates, the exact nature of our wrongs.

Thurston seems to have also missed this important step. It appears few knew Thurston was once a proud Blue.

6. Were entirely ready to have Mal remove all these defects of character.

Yes, amazing what a Maroon jumper and a quick trip to the dentist, to add more teeth, can fix.

7. Humbly asked Mal to remove our shortcomings.

And so after Game III, 2011, he did get wheeled onto the field after the game and, touched by Mal, he did rise and celebrate.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

This is the important “sorry” stage to the 12 steps and the list is long. About eight years worth.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Thurston has made no efforts here. Indeed, he continues to injure his former Blues teammates on an annual basis. For example one of his under-19s teammates, Ryan Hoffman, will again suffer his wrath tonight.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

Again, Thurston will not admit that Greg Inglis actually did drop the ball in Game I 2012, another result that, if it went the correct way, would have given NSW the game and also the series.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with Mal as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

All together now ... “Singing yi, yi yippy, yippy yiiiii ... Singing yi, yi yippy, yippy yiiiii ...”

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

And so he continues to be sponsored by NSW players like Inglis, and even Thaiday, while his mob continue trying to convert others like the young Luke Keary ..