JOHNATHAN Thurston will finish his career against the Titans as he started it, as the ultimate class act.

However long before the Dally M Medals, the Origin wins and the Kangaroos jumpers, Thurston was a humble kid trying to forge a first grade career at the Bulldogs.

Club captain Steve Price was injured in the lead up to the 2004 Grand Final, giving a then 21-year-old Thurston the opportunity to come off the bench in the decider.

Round 20

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The Bulldogs would go on to win a tight tussle 16-13 over the Roosters, handing Thurston his first premiership ring.

However Thurston would later say the ring never felt right in his possession and he sought out his injured skipper during the trophy presentation.

Selflessly Thurston would give his ring to Price in a touching gesture, saying that he deserved it more than anyone.

“Yes I have,” Thurston said back in 2004, when asked if he had given away his ring.

“Unfortunately for Pricey he hasn’t been here, but he’s been here all year and we did it for him.

“I gave him my ring because he is the best bloke on this earth.”

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The pair shared a warm embrace, as they mayhem of Grand Final celebrations raged on around them.

Price would leave the club for the Warriors at the end of the season and would never play in another Grand Final.

Thurston too would never play for the Bulldogs again, moving to the Cowboys the next season, where he would lose a Grand Final to the Tigers, before winning the 2015 decider as captain.

Thurston would go on to one of the greatest rugby league careers in history and become one of the most humble champions the game has ever produced.

While few could have predicted in 2004, the heights Thurston’s career has gone too on the field since, that moment with Price gave us a window into the future of JT as a person.

Price and Thurston have remained firm friends ever since that magical October night in 2004, when rugby league took a back seat to two mates sharing a moment of appreciation for one another on rugby league’s grandest stage.