Canberra artist paints NRL star Johnathan Thurston for Archibald Prize entry

Engel chose NRL player Johnathan Thurston as his subject, despite not being a huge NRL fan himself.

"My favourite team is Collingwood and when I mentioned that to Johnathan he had a great chuckle about it," he said.

"But from time to time I watch the NRL and I've been impressed generally by [Thurston's] general demeanour and the way that he plays the game. He's got such high skills but also he's become an emblem for the game and also he has a great connection with his local community in Townsville. He's bigger than the game itself."

Engel approached Thurston's manager Sam Ayoub about painting the portrait, and while Ayoub was reluctant at first due to Thurston's packed schedule, Engel didn't take no for an answer.

He flew up to Townsville in March for the sitting, which took place at the Cowboys' club.

"When we sat down with Johnathan he'd just come off the ground, he was all hot and sweaty and he was very gracious about it all and very interested and happy to help," he said.

Engel painted two portraits of the rugby league player, who helped the Queensland State of Origin team clinch a win against NSW this week.

One shows Thurston, hand on hip, locking eyes with the artist, and the other is a close-up of Thurston's face as he stares off to the side.

Engel's unveiling the two portraits at an event in Hackett on June 15 which is open to the public, to help decide which one to enter into the Archibald Prize.

It's Engel's second time entering the prestigious competition, having entered a portrait of the former Commonwealth Ombudsman John McMillan in 2007, but the portrait wasn't selected.

Entries to this year's Archibald Prize close on June 24, with the finalists announced on July 7 and the winner announced on July 15.

Engel's unveiling of the two portraits is on Wednesday, June 15, from 5.30pm at Wilbur's Cafe in Hackett.