Canterbury Englishman Luke Thompson has decided to honour his contract despite suffering homesickness, and has revealed his girlfriend will be moving to Australia next season.
The British prop returned in last weeks game against Gold Coast after being rested in round 16 against Canberra.
Thompson has said that in the off-season he will return to the UK before coming back to Australia with his girlfriend.
Kristian Woolf, Thompsons former coach, said the โdoor was always openโ if he wanted to return to the Super League, but he is intent on focusing on his NRL career.
โIโve signed a three-year deal here and Iโm fully committed to the Bulldogs,โ said Thompson, who is contracted until the end of 2023.
โWeโve got the new coach next year and Iโm really excited for the challenge and my future at the club.
โIโm also looking to bring my girlfriend back for next year, so it should be good.
โBut it has been tough since Iโve been here. Iโve come to the other side of the world on my own, but Iโve just been focusing on the rugby and doing my best for the team each week.
โThere is three weeks to go and weโll go from there.โ
Luke Thompson faces his former St Helens coach today in Justin Holbrook. Can the Dogs come out on top in this must win clash?#NRLBulldogsTitans, kick-off 3pm, only on #FoxLeague 502! pic.twitter.com/3u0AZ8Ocdk
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) September 5, 2020
Despite Canterburys infamous boardroom battles, he says that he has spoken to new coach Trent Barrett and is excited to see what the Bulldogs have in store for the future.
โI spoke to Trent briefly and he seems like a really good fella,โ he said.
โHe is also really excited about coming to the Bulldogs and trying to take this club forward.
โIโm really looking forward to working with Trent. Results havenโt been going our way, but weโll take all this hurt from this year, have a good rest up and take it into next year.โ
Thompson also dismissed the claims from Phil Gould surrounding the idea that their board is a "toxic mess".
Thompson, who has played for Canterbury since round 9, said he wasn't worried about the clubs officials constantly being at war.
โWe just worry about the rugby on the field and what we can do at training.
โSince Iโve been here, everyone at the club has been great to me and I can only see the club going in one direction and Iโm really excited to be part of that next year and going forward.โ
Thompson is aiming to finish his first NRL season on a high, starting with Canterbury's Friday clash with Manly at ANZ stadium.
Luke Thompson having the best game I've seen him play in the #NRL. Quality performance today, strong, tough runs and unlucky not to have a try earlier. Big game. #NRLBulldogsTitans
— Paul Kneeshaw (@Stick_Beetle) September 5, 2020