{"id":364452,"date":"2024-02-01T02:39:16","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T03:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=364452"},"modified":"2024-02-01T07:03:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T07:03:41","slug":"jt-reveals-scary-reality-after-smiths-surprise-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=364452","title":{"rendered":"JT reveals scary reality after Smith's surprise exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Queensland Maroons<\/a> icon Johnathan Thurston<\/a> has opened up on Cameron Smith's decision to quit as assistant coach<\/a>, managing to see the positive side to a significant decision.<\/p>\n

Smith<\/a>'s call was made public on Wednesday after two years standing alongside former teammate Billy Slater\ufeff, leading the side to back-to-back Origin series victories.<\/p>\n

The decision from one of the greatest players of all time comes as he prepares to dedicate more time to grassroots rugby league\ufeff, coaching juniors at Currumbin Eagles.<\/p>\n

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Thurston revealed his former captain let him know directly as soon as it was decided. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"H\ufeffe rang me to let me know, I totally understand why he's made his decision," he told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"I don't think there's anyone else that's done more for the state than what he has for that Maroons jersey.<\/p>\n

"He'll still be around and involved, he's got an open line on his phone so hopefully he answers it," he added with a laugh.<\/p>\n

Despite the disappointment for the Maroons senior squad, Thurston was able to see the positive side of the decision with the next generation of player able to benefit from the tutelage of an 11-time State of Origin winner. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"Imagine your 13-year-old son getting trained by the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)," he laughed.<\/p>\n

"All your Christmases have come at once. It would be the best.<\/p>\n

"Smithy can talk to anyone, he's comfortable in every setting, whether it's the CEOs or young kids.<\/p>\n

"It's huge for Currumbin and junior rugby league to have players like him coaching the next generation."<\/p>\n

Brisbane Broncos assistant coach Matt Ballin – who played one game for Queensland – will replace Smith in the role. \ufeff\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Queensland Maroons icon Johnathan Thurston has opened up on Cameron Smith's decision to quit as assistant coach, managing to see the positive side to a […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":364454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364452"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=364452"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":364455,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364452\/revisions\/364455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/364454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=364452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=364452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=364452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}