Making just his second appearance in the starting side for the Jets, Thurgate pulled the strings in midfield as Newcastle continued their recent dominance of the Roar.

While the Port Macquarie product didn't find the back of the net, he was one of the Jets' best as last year's A-League grand finalists ran riot.

Such was his impact on the game, coach Ernie Merrick gave a glowing appraisal after the match and indicated the former Port Saints junior could have a significant role to play for the team next season.

"He's got a future regularly next year I would say the way he's playing," Merrick said.

"He not only was winning the ball, he was setting up all the plays.

"He rarely gave it away; he gets embarrassed because he's from Port Macquarie and they call him the Port Macquarie Pele which is a slight exaggeration, but he was outstanding."

The 19-year-old played the entire 90 minutes, going one step further than his starting eleven debut against Melbourne City on February 15.

On that occasion he was substituted after 64 minutes, but in Brisbane he was full of running.

"I was really surprised; Angus and Joey (Champness) were probably our best two players," Merrick said.

Thurgate has regularly played a role off the bench for Merrick this season.

But if his performance in the middle of the park for 90 minutes at Suncorp Stadium is any indication, Merrick has some food for thought as to what part he will play next season.

"He looked like a senior player," he said.

"When I've brought him off the bench he's always done a job, but tonight I thought he ran the show."

The Jets wrap up their 2018/19 Hyundai A-League campaign next Saturday night against Sydney FC.

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