Johnathan Thurston opened a bottle of wine when the call from Cameron Smith came through to inform him he was retiring from representative rugby league.

The North Queensland legend has given a glowing tribute to his fellow Queensland great after Smith’s decision to focus solely on his club football.

The two might be rivals in the NRL with the Cowboys and Melbourne but they have a lifelong friendship after creating a State of Origin dynasty for the Maroons, who have won 11 of the past 12 series.