NRL legend Johnathan Thurston was brutally stitched up on live television and it was all thanks to his outfit.
The former North Queensland Cowboys superstar was put on blast by NRL supremo Phil Gould following the Sea Eagles’ demolition of the Eels on Friday night.
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The Canterbury Bulldogs boss couldn’t believe what he was seeing as he savaged the 41-year-old and his oversized scarf.
In what was a calm night at 4 Pines Park in Sydney, with temperates hovering just below 20 degrees, Thurston went for the rugged up look … and it didn’t sit well with Gould.
“Have you seen what Johnathan Thurston’s wearing? Have a look at what he’s wearing,” Gould said.
“What is that you’re wearing down there, my god.
“You look like a marriage celebrant. I think you’re about to marry someone.
“Who let you wear that?”
Thurston took it all in stride and said the fashion choice was necessary as he was used to the balmy conditions in Far North Queensland.
“I don’t know, I’m feeling a bit cold … I’m from Townsville it’s still 30 degrees up there.”
But Gould wasn’t finished as he added: “Are you selling those or something? That’s awful. No one is going to take up that fashion.”
Thurston was left speechless by the brutal attack: “I don’t know what to say”.
The blistering attack on JT’s outfit was met with raucous laughter from fellow Channel 9 members James Bracey, Alanna Ferguson and Brad Fittler.
Social media users were divided over the look from Thurston with some agreeing with Gould’s take-down while others believed the look was a winner.
One commented: “I think you look trendy JT, Gus needs to look in the mirror.”
A second added: “Football advice from Gus, sure … fashion advice – not so much!”
Another weighed in: “I thought the same thing Gus.”
A fourth wrote: “That’s pretty normal colder parts of the world like Europe or Scandinavia etc..but yeah very weird to see in Straya.”
The hilarious post-game moment becomes the latest in a long line of incidents where Thurston has been stitched up live on air by the Channel 9 team.
While Gould’s attack on Thurston’s scarf was unscripted, one of the more memorable stitch ups unfolded a few years back.
Thurston was hung out to dry by his colleagues in what was a perfectly executed April Fools prank.
Bracey pretended to fall ill just moments before the broadcast was due to return from a commercial break.
It left Thurston looking like a deer in headlights as a producer behind the camera called “live” as he attempted to step into hosting duties as Ferguson stood by watching him fail miserably.
“Welcome back to Thursday night footy, we’ve just had a little bit of an accident here with James Bracey not feeling the greatest so I’m taking over,” Thurston said.
“Allana, what a start to the half by the mighty Penrith Panthers. They kicked off with Viliame Kikau and the rest and we’ll throw over to Freddy (Brad Fittler) now.”
Thurston thought Fittler, who was providing commentary from the sideline during the game, was his get out of jail free card.
But that plan was quickly snuffed out when a producer said through his ear piece that Fittler wasn’t available and to keep talking.
The second surprise left Thurston stunned and he struggled to get any words out before saying, “how about we look at some highlights, Allana”.
As Thurston began to recover and talk about the dominance of the left side of the Panthers’ attack, Bracey returned to the desk to drop a bomb.
“Hey JT, April Fool’s baby,” he said.
“That was a good get, I loved it,” Thurston said.
Fair to say this isn’t the last time the NRL icon will be stitched up during post-game proceedings.