Last Night on GO!, JT was crowned winner of Survivor Tocantins and awarded a cheque for 1.1 Million Dollars. We caught up with him after the reunion show over the phone to discuss his winning strategy and his time in the Brazillian Highlands!
First of all, because of our exchange rate, you could earn around $200,000 more ontop of that Million if you ever decide to move down to Australia!
Thankyou very much, Thanks *laughs*
Not many people can last on Survivor as not only the winner, but the most popular with your fellow tribemates and the viewers at home. How does it feel to be so well liked?
It feels incredible, Ben. To win is unbelievable, and to get everybody’s vote is incredible. It really is.
You mentioned on the reunion that you played it up when Stephen said he would’ve taken Erinn to the final 2, was there any other parts of the game where you played it up and pretended to be a bit more naive than you really were?
I tried to be myself for most of the game, but I played it up with Coach – I was his sidekick and would do anything for him. I tried to make relationships with the charatcers out there, and be as honest as I could, but whenever I got a chance when I wanted to throw in a little extra I definitely did.
The people who you aligned with – Stephen and Taj especially – were very strategic and weren’t followers. Was there any point where you thought they would turn on you?
You know, those two, Stephen and Taj – and Coach aswell, they were very trustworthy. But my biggest competition was definitely Stephen because he was the only one playing the game as hard as I was. But those conditions out there were so harsh that after two weeks we grew really close and were working together with Taj, who was luckily really solid aswell. Even with Coach bringing in Tyson [into the alliance], I knew I could always trust Stephen and Taj.
Was it hard not telling your family and friends how far you lasted on the show?
My parents knew I was in the family visit because my sister came to visit me, so they knew I was in the final six. But the first few weeks were very hard – that’s when I wanted to tell somebody the most! I let them believe I came in fourth place, and after that initial excitement I was able to lay low and not tell anybody. Everybody was expecting me to be voted out in the final four and my mum almost had a heart attack! It made it much more fun for them to watch, and walking out for the live finale and seeing my family in the front row was really priceless.
Be honest with me, were you expecting to win before Jeff read the votes out?
I thought I had a really good chance, but I figured the votes would be 4 to 3 – I thought Tyson, Erinn and Taj would vote for Stephen, and I didn’t know where Sierra would be at because she scared me at the tribal council! I think Stephen was scrambling because Erinn caught him out and I played things up, which I think was most important to me winning.
Finally, what do you think the biggest factor was that led to your win?
I think the key to winning was my relationship with Stephen, working together throughout the game!
Survivor Samoa airs on Channel 9, 7.30pm Tuesdays!
Write a Comment