After being linked to the Dragons and Wests Tigers for next season, Luke Thompson has now been linked to the Sydney Roosters, with the club showing interest in the forward.
The decision comes after an underwhelming season Thompson had at the Bulldogs, in which he is unlikely to be offered a new contract. Presently, on $800,000 a season, it is unlikely his next contract will be around the same value.
Arriving at the Bulldogs in 2020, he has unfortunately failed to live up to his potential, which saw him claim the Man of the Match award in the 2019ย Super Leagueย Grand Final and earn seven tests forย Englandย and three for Great Britain.
After being linked to both the St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers for next season, the Bulldogs forward is now receiving interest from the Sydney Roosters, who will have enough money in the salary cap if they lose Angus Crichton to Rugby Australia..
"There's a little bit of interest apparently from the Roosters," Brent Read said onย Triple M.
"Obviously, the Angus Crichton news has come out in the last 48 hours or so that he may leave at the end of the season, depending on what happens with Rugby.
"If that happens, they've got to upgrade a couple of blokes, Terrell May, Siua Wong's an obvious one...potentially if they get some money out of that deal with Angus leaving, then they may take a look at Luke Thompson."
In the past, it was revealed that Luke Thompson was keen on joining the Sydney Roosters for next season and would even take a significant pay cut to join the Bondi-based club.
"It's an interesting one, and this will probably get people scratching their head a little bit butย Luke Thompson is telling people he would like to play for the Roosters for less," Danny Weidler said on 100% Footy.
"We've heard that story before. There's been an approach that Thompson would like to go to the Roosters and he's got an association with (incoming assistant coach)ย Justin Holbrook.
"I think there's a couple of other clubs that would likeย Luke Thompson. I don't know whether (Phil Gould's) Dogs are still in with a chance of keeping him or if they even want him, I don't know.
"I do know thatย Luke Thompsonย has been linked (to the Roosters), there was an approach to Nick Politis, the chairman of the Roosters. It'll be interesting to see if that goes through. I don't know how they fit him into the cap though."
The Roosters signed Spencer Leniu to replace JWH, who has since resigned with the club. They also signed Dom Young to replace Daniel Tupou, who has since also re signed with the club. They’ve also signed Lewis Murphy from the Super League. Given Angus Crichton is the only established NRL player from the 2023 squad who is said to be leaving, those sums still go nowhere near adding up.