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Townsville mayor Jenny Hill has today announced a proposal to erect a 328 ft soapstone statue of Cowboys captain and future rugby league immortal, Johnathan Thurston, on top of the iconic pink granite monolith ‘Castle Hill’ which overshadows the North Queensland capital.

Modelled off the iconic art deco sculptor of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, the statue will expected to be paid for by both the local council and Federal Government’s Northern Australia development fund.

The idea was allegedly bought to life after an overwhelming majority of the residents of Townsville listed their official religion as ‘rugby league’ in the 2016 census.

“Not sure if it was the Royal Commission into the Catholics or the 2015 Grand Final, but the people have spoken. JT is the most prominent religious figure in North Queensland, and we will pay our respects to our local demigod in an appropriate way”

This announcement comes after the news that State of Origin hero was named the 2018 Queenslander of the Year for his work off the rugby league field.

The North Queensland Cowboys captain received the honour for his work as an Indigenous mentor at an awards function in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Thurston was reached for comment but he was too busy rescuing an old lady from a burning building while also signing autographs for the hard-working fireys inside.