Roosters coach Trent Robinson has likened Johnathan Thurston to Arthur Beetson after the North Queensland Cowboys halfback's last ever game at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Thurston starred as the 15th placed Cowboys nearly caused a boilover in a 26-20 defeat to the high-flying Chooks.
JT, who is retiring at the end of the season, was given a guard of honour by the Roosters after fulltime and was presented with commemorative cufflinks.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Robinson had some high praise for Thurston.
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"It's hard, you're in week to week footy and you're focused on what you need to do to improve each week and then you've got a guy who comes along once in a generation," he said.
"You're about to play your last game against him and we really wanted to really honour him as a person. We wanted to beat him tonight in the game, but we also wanted to honour the legacy that he's left.
"We were fortunate enough to have a guy called Artie Beetson at our club who left such a big impact on the game and our club and Australia when it came to the first indigenous captain.
"JT's left a similar legacy to Artie Beetson. I think that's the biggest rap I can give him and I didn't want to let that pass."
Speaking on the Sunday Footy Show, Peter Sterling agreed with Robinson, and added some more praise for Thurston.
"It's spot on," Sterlo said of Robinson's tribute.
"He's had an impact on our game and he's had impact outside the game as well. As a statesman in a lot of different ways now, I said last night that he's the best advertisement for rugby league.
"To have him leave the game, we need to make sure he's still heavily involved in some other way because he's a quality human being.
"If you're a mum or dad at home, he's the reason you let your kids play footy."
