Luke Thompson ‘days away’ from Canterbury move

[josie andrews]

Luke Thompson appears to have played his last game for St Helens with a move to Canterbury days away.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Bulldogs are closing in on an immediate move for the England forward, who could fly down under as soon as next week.

The report claims the Bulldogs, who Thompson has already signed for ahead of 2021, will pay a transfer fee to secure his services for the rest of the year.

Thompson has spent his entire professional career with Saints and has emerged as one of the world’s best forward.

His departure would come as a blow to Kristian Woolf, with Thompson winning the Harry Sunderland trophy in Saints’ Grand Final victory over Salford last year.

https://www.totalrl.com/luke-thompson-d ... rbury-move

[Barney841]

Class player. He will go well in the Nrl

[moto748]

Nobody goes well at the Bulldogs!

[old hooker]

Nobody goes well at the Bulldogs!

James Graham didn,t do too bad.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

Nobody goes well at the Bulldogs!

James Graham didn,t do too bad.

True. He never won a premiership though. Reminds me of Steven Gerrard.

[Wiganer Ted]

Thompson like Graham before him will be a big miss for Super League. SL will be poorer without him.

[josie andrews]

With immediate effect!

After much discussion and speculation in recent weeks, Saints have confirmed that Luke Thompson will leave the club with immediate effect, for an undisclosed sum, to NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs.

St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus said on the matter:

“St. Helens had been placed in a difficult position as Luke Thompson had opted not to participate in our club wide squad and staff pay reduction arrangement for the 2020 season, this being necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic and its significant commercial consequences.

“It was therefore agreed to be in everyone’s best interests for the transfer to take place now rather than at the end of the season as originally planned.”

Thompson spent 13 years with the club, having progressed through the academy system before making his first team debut in 2013.



https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/1 ... ate-effect

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

With immediate effect!

After much discussion and speculation in recent weeks, Saints have confirmed that Luke Thompson will leave the club with immediate effect, for an undisclosed sum, to NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs.

St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus said on the matter:

“St. Helens had been placed in a difficult position as Luke Thompson had opted not to participate in our club wide squad and staff pay reduction arrangement for the 2020 season, this being necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic and its significant commercial consequences.

“It was therefore agreed to be in everyone’s best interests for the transfer to take place now rather than at the end of the season as originally planned.”

Thompson spent 13 years with the club, having progressed through the academy system before making his first team debut in 2013.



https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/1 ... ate-effect

Eamonn having a dig?

[DaveO]

With immediate effect!

After much discussion and speculation in recent weeks, Saints have confirmed that Luke Thompson will leave the club with immediate effect, for an undisclosed sum, to NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs.

St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus said on the matter:

“St. Helens had been placed in a difficult position as Luke Thompson had opted not to participate in our club wide squad and staff pay reduction arrangement for the 2020 season, this being necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic and its significant commercial consequences.

“It was therefore agreed to be in everyone’s best interests for the transfer to take place now rather than at the end of the season as originally planned.”

Thompson spent 13 years with the club, having progressed through the academy system before making his first team debut in 2013.



https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/1 ... ate-effect

Eamonn having a dig?

Looks like it and so making an excuse to the Saints fans about the player not taking a wage cut. I think the reality is more likely to be Saints needed the money from the fee and were glad to to have his entire wage off the books given the situation with the virus.

As to him being a big loss to SL, SL is at the mercy of the NRL as we know all too well. The best players will inevitably leave. So if another club loses a star player instead of us, good.

[fozzieskem]

If he wouldn't take a pay cut when most other players seem to have done so then its a good bit of business by saints and even if it is a dig by the chairman its still good business given the crap storm thats about to hit everyone, not least rugby league clubs.