They say timing is everything but being born during half time of a major NRL game is perfection. 

On September 12th 2015, the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys met in the first of the finals games to decide who went straight through to the Grand Final and who had to take the difficult route. The fans were looking at a Broncos lead of 8-2 at halftime. Mossman local Wendy Porter was in the final seconds of labour in Cairns Hospital.   

Baby Malu entered the world within the first minute of the games half time, at 8:54pm. TV commentators were busy analysing the first half of the game, while new parents Wendy Porter and Eli Pitt celebrated their sons timely arrival.  

Twenty-two days later, the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos met again, this time for the NRL Grand Final at Sydney’s ANZ stadium on October 4th. Malu, whose Torres Strait  name means ‘deep ocean’, was yet to receive a middle name.  

As replicated the nation over, families and friends gathered to watch the first ever all Queensland final and what a thriller it was. Those final minutes had the trophy going from one team to the other. For Cowboys fans, Thurston’s golden point field goal secured whose hands would be wrapped around the ultimate prize.  

Wendy and Eli sat with friends watching the nail biting final seconds of the game. Thurston did it, he won the game, the final, the trophy, with the golden kick. Eli jumped so high he banged his head on the projector and almost knocked himself out. Wendy, who was breastfeeding baby Malu screamed so loud, she feared for his little ears.  

Malu’s father, a die hard, lifelong Cowboys fan and his mother, who only got into the footie this season, were elated. “Our friend Jocelyn Schumacher quickly suggested we give Malu the middle name ‘Thurston’ after the game and we ran with the idea”.  

Baby Malu was duly named, Malu Thurston Porter Pitt.  

This Sunday, 18th October, Johnathan Thurston (JT) and most of the winning Queensland Cowboys team will be showing off their winning trophy at Barlow Park, Cairns from 3pm as part of their regional trophy tour.  

Barlow Park will undoubtedly be packed to the rafters with eager fans hoping to get a glimpse of JT and the boys. One little boy, may be the only person in the ground named after the co-captain himself.  

Malu’s parents have tried in vain to get a Cowboys shirt for him, unsurprisingly they have sold out. On order, however  is a North Queensland Cowboys birth certificate, which parents Wendy and Eli hope will arrive in time for JT to sign, on Sunday at Barlow Park.  

Asked if Wendy and Eli are hopeful of Malu Thurston Porter Pitt meeting Malus namesake Jonathan Thurston on Sunday, Wendy said, “now that’s a silly question, I hope so!”