“SO we meet again.”

The text message, sent to the phone of Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith last Sunday night, was short and to the point.

The sender?

North Queensland superstar and childhood friend Johnathan Thurston.

Round 20

And so they will in Saturday’s qualifying final at AAMI Park, which’ll be 25 years since Smith and Thurston’s first clash on the field at the age of eight.

In a sport where there are many scandals, even ones involving the egging of cars, Smith and Thurston are the best representation of everything good about rugby league.

Thurston — who admittedly found his way after a few mishaps early in his career — is the Cowboys’ version of Smith; a popular and widely respected superstar who transcends codes.

He is the complete package; the player at the top of Storm coach Craig Bellamy’s list of players he would’ve loved to have coached.

Smith and Thurston are two of the greatest players of the modern era. Source: News Corp Australia

For his part, Smith believes Thurston will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

The Queensland legend with the infectious grin and trademark kookaburra-like laugh saw his stature grow even stronger after last year’s epic grand final.

Even NRL novices could not help but be captivated by Thurston’s sideline conversion attempt at fulltime that would’ve won the premiership.

After a dramatic build up, in which the Cowboys’ star almost theatrically took what felt like an hour to take the kick, Thurston struck it well but it crashed into the post to force the premiership decider against Brisbane into golden point.

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Fittingly, it was then Thurston’s field goal that won the game to seal his football immortality.

But that was then and this is now.

Smith desperately craves redemption after the Cowboys came to Melbourne and thrashed it in last year’s preliminary final.

Thurston, meanwhile, is hungry for more success after fulfilling his dream of leading the Cowboys to their first title.

Thurston and Smith have forged a terrific combination at Origin and Test level. Source: News Corp Australia

Their respective careers have been intertwined ever since first meeting in Brisbane all those years ago.

They have gone on to share a remarkable journey of success at representative level, for both Queensland and Australia.

“I was playing for Logan Brothers and he was playing for Sunnybank, so we’ve known each other since we were little kids,” Smith said.

“It’s been nice to go through our careers together and being able to play so much together at representative level.

“It’s been nice to see him achieve the things he’s done and he’d probably feel the same way about me as well.”

The feeling is mutual.

“Smithy is one of my best mates,” Thurston said.

“He’s a great friend so there is always plenty of respect when we come up against each other.”

Thurston is arguably Townsville’s most-loved citizen.

Storm fullback Cameron Munster, who grew up in Rockhampton, said Thurston had always been a revered figure in the north.

“We play different positions but I have looked up to him because he’s a really good player and a freak of a talent,” Munster said.

Thurston and Smith will clash again on Saturday night. Source: News Corp Australia

“Playing against him, sometimes I do pinch myself every now and then.

“But it is a difference scenario now and it is us against them.”

Storm will head in as slight favourite, but Thurston is a big-game performer and will do everything in this power to upset Storm.

Speaking to the Townsville Bulletin this week Thurston said he was under no illusion how tough it would be.

“Travelling to Melbourne is always a big challenge, they’ve built a fortress down there and defensively they are the best in the competition,” he said.

“Offensively they’re the same and we’ll have our work cut out for us, but this is what brings out the excitement.

“I’ve played a lot of football alongside of them (Smith and Cooper Cronk) and obviously against them, so you look forward to these type match-ups and no doubt they will be as well.”