7th Tackle: JT's incredible gesture for cancer patient

There wasn't a dry eye in the house at the Men Of League Gala ball last night, as Johnathan Thurston again showed why he's the most popular sportsperson in Australia.

The future Immortal is still recovering from season ending shoulder surgery, yet flew from Townsville to Sydney just to surprise 79-year-old Mary Durose.

Mary and her husband Peter opened their home to Thurston when he moved from Queensland to Belmore – in his early days at Canterbury.

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Mary fed, counselled, disciplined and nurtured JT along with Nate Myles, Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams and hundreds of young players for 22 years in the "Bulldogs House" - set up by the late Peter "Bullfrog" Moore.

Sadly Mary was struck down by mouth cancer in 2003, and her husband Peter was confined to a wheelchair after a series of strokes, and the Bulldogs House was unfortunately shut down.

Mary's cancer has now returned, but Thurston was able to put a smile on her face as they reminisced over those early years that shaped his life.

Picking up the kicking tee for the ball kids, giving away his headgear to fans, helping out the people of Aurukun – Johnathan Thurston is the people's champion - that's why we all love him.