The Canterbury Bulldogs have signed star English international Luke Thompson on a three-year deal.
Off-contract in November, the St Helens forward informed the Super League club he will not renew his deal with them to try his hand in the NRL.
After drawing interest from a number of NRL rivals, the 24-year old settled on the Bulldogs and will join Belmore from the 2021 season.
Thompson made 157 appearances for St Helens and is regarded as one of the best props in the Super League.
He was a part of the Saints' 2014 championship side in 2014 and was named man-of-the-match in last year's Super League grand final win over Salford.
Thompson old was excited to begin a new chapter of his career in Australia.
โGetting the chance to join the Bulldogs and be a part of a club with so much history and with such passionate fans is very exciting," he toldย bulldogs.com.au.
"Having spoken to many people at the club and listened to their plans for the future, I know that they are building for success and Iโm looking forward to being part of that.
"When you join a club like the Bulldogs you know about the players and the culture that has gone before you and the fact that second best isnโt good enough and that was something that was important to me.
"I look forward to joining them for the 2021 season and getting to be a part of a talented squad that is hungry for success and this will now enable me to focus on having a great final season with St Helens.โ
Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill added: โEven though Luke is at the start of his career, we have been really impressed by his on-field leadership qualities and his desire to be the best.
"He is an excellent player who has become a star of the Super League and has shown what he is capable of at International level and we are looking forward to him getting the chance to show everyone in the NRL what he is capable of.
"We feel as though we are creating a really strong squad moving forward and to have someone of Lukeโs calibre want to be part of that and to buy in to what we are building here is a big vote of confidence in the club and the future.
"I am sure that our members and fans are going to love seeing him run out in the blue and white and continue the tradition of English forwards who have prospered in the NRL.โ
Good pick-up by the dogs.
Now let’s see how long this blog lasts before it is hijacked by the usual serial pests.
Well Kev..
Iโd just like to hear why the Nuggets & Southโs donโt need him. How they will go this coming season & about their glorious histories.
Spewing was hoping the Holbrook drawcard was going to pull him to Titans wonder how much he cost the doggies. Will see if he’s a pommie flop but forwards have gone better than backs
It wouldn’t be the same without hearing that great info from them EOD.
@isdonisgood
He would have been great for the Titans.
Would have been happy to see him at Parra to.
Very few English props fail in the NRL.
Like you said it’s the backs that are a letdown.
Bennett and Richo considered him on their visit to GB and believe a good offer was put on the table.
Dogs were in a position to up it and did by a very considerable margin.
Brennan.Lane
February 4, 2020 at 9:54 am
“I see Old man Bennett last season went over to England trying to purchase test prop Luke Thompson.
Well it failed last season because he did not want to be coached by a dud coach”
Latrell Mitchell obviously thinks different.
So much for Yobbo’s credibility if Wayne is a dud.
typical tool Brennan.Lane aka Woody Clown tried turning this into a Souths story..
Good pickup dogs – thumbs up
Good pick up by the doggies in an area where they need some bolstering for sure.
Luke Thompson looks like another hard headed trier . So it does look like a good pick up by the Bulldogs.
Theyโre really doing a good job of rebuilding, since the overspend sell off. Iโd think theyโll feature a lot higher on the table even this coming season, than many would imagine. Especially if the halves continue to improve.
Didnโt say the Chicken Cluckers would need to buy him BrennanWoodChips. I said youโd love to explain (yet again), why they wouldnโt? Then again, we donโt really care!
It’s just getting boring now.
It’s like watching a re run of an 80’s tv show.
Sure it’s good for a laugh but gets tedious after a couple of episodes.
YESSSSSSSSSSSS finally a big name signing! Only upwards from here, this guy is going to kill it like all the other English forwards that have done so already. Also, why the absolute f*** did this have to be yet another article turned into a Souths and Roosters fest? You fake accounts really need lives.. This is about the Dogs so why not talk about how they’re moving in the right direction and about Thompson?
This bloke might be a bit to small to handle the nrl. 185cm 105kg heโs not a monster like some of the boys in the nrl. I hope Iโm wrong but I canโt see him lasting at prop in the nrl
Its a step in the right direction for the Bulldogs which is much needed at this point of their rebuilding process.
Dean Pay has definite qualities as a coach given the roster he was handed and hopefully with plenty to spend will attract a few more good signings.
Brennan.Lane February 4, 2020 at 12:58 pm
“Het talking about props Bennett should sign our local junior up after a stint in England.
Former South Sydney and Wigan prop Gabriel Hamlin has been given a two-year ban after he tested positive for cocaine last season.”
What is your point dopey and what’s this got to do with anything NRL?
BTW when did this player play NRL?
Overated. Got stood over by the tongans, kiwis and kumuls in their end of year tour.