NRL 2020: Gold Coast Titans recruit Corey Thompson addresses Michael Maguire rumours
With Corey Thompson being rushed into the Gold Coast Titans’ No.1 jersey, the former Wests Tigers backline utility addressed rumours of a falling out with his old coach.
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Gold Coast Titans recruit Corey Thompson has broken his silence over his swift exit from Wests and addressed suggestions of a falling out with Tigers coach Michael Maguire.
Thompson will be rushed into the Titans’ No.1 jersey for Saturday’s clash against St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium.
The Titans had been on the hunt for a fullback to fill in for first-choice custodian AJ Brimson, sidelined until at least August by a fractured back.
Thompson, 30, became available after being overlooked for selection at the Tigers when the NRL season resumed three weeks ago.
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Thompson denied he had fallen out with Maguire and said Wests were keen to retain him.
“It was good. Everything is positive, we did everything the right way,” he said.
“Me and Madge (Maguire) talked to each other face-to-face. He didn’t want me to leave, but he also knew what a great opportunity it was for myself.
“No one spoke behind each other’s backs and there was no bad blood. I had heaps of positive meetings and laughs with Madge.
“He was great. He supported me the whole way. That’s just how footy is sometimes.
“He told me during isolation he was going to give Adam (Doueihi) the first shot at fullback and I was fine with that. I’m happy to do my time on the wing and put in for the team.
“He picked Jenno (Robert Jennings) for the first game back and told me it was a hard decision, a 50-50 call and he decided to go with Jenno instead.”
Thompson agreed a fortnight ago to join the Titans until the end of 2022, but Wests baulked at releasing the Brisbane product because of concerns over injuries and form.
Thompson was left in limbo after being overlooked for the third game in a row, before Wests eventually relented and released him.
“I wasn’t in the team first game back after isolation and my management put out feelers, doing their job, to see what options I had,” Thompson said.
“Thankfully the Titans grabbed it with both hands. I’m really grateful to them. They showed faith in me and I went straight for it.
“The last two weeks it was (frustrating). The Tigers agreed to the release but also wanted to make sure none of the outside backs got any long-term injuries.
“I thought it was done last week but the Tigers put a hold on it for a week because a couple of the boys had niggling injuries and they wanted me to wait for the Canberra game. If one of the boys went down with an injury I might not have been able to come.
“I didn’t get the all clear until Saturday night at the Tigers game. The club said they’d give me an answer after the game.
“The house was packed. At about 9.30pm I got the all clear and drove up to the Gold Coast at 5.30am Sunday morning.”
Titans coach Justin Holbrook will blood Thompson against the Dragons, allowing fill-in fullback Phillip Sami to return to his best position on the wing.
The Titans are last on the ladder after the Dragons recorded their first win of the season.
Thompson said he could have an immediate impact for the Gold Coast in his 80th NRL game.
“I’ve been thrown in the deep end which is good and learning the plays on the run,” he said.
“The boys have welcomed me so much. They’re helping me and talking to me so much.
“It’s a simple job – support the big boys and listen to the halves where they want me.
“I love playing fullback. That’s where I can add more to the game.”
TITANS FACE BATTLE TO KEEP STAR FORWARD - Peter Badel
Gold Coast are fighting to retain Kevin Proctor with four clubs, including two from the English Super League, launching a poaching bid for the veteran Titans skipper.
News Corp can reveal the off-contract Proctor is a man in demand and has put negotiations with the Titans on hold ahead of Saturday’s clash with South Sydney at Bankwest Stadium.
The Titans’ most experienced player with 244 top-grade appearances, Proctor has fielded interest from NRL rivals Wests Tigers and Canterbury and Super League clubs St Helens and Catalans Dragons.
While Proctor has come under fire at times for failing to replicate the form he showed at former club Melbourne, the 31-year-old is the Titans’ only premiership player and the embattled club cannot afford to lose his big-game experience.
St Helens and French club Catalans are circling Proctor and the Kiwi Test back-rower admits he is weighing up whether to pursue a new experience in Super League or sign a contract extension with the Titans.
“I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t mind going overseas at some stage in my career,” Proctor said.
“It’s been appealing to me for a couple of years.
“I would like to be a part of the Titans moving forward, the club is heading in the right direction, we’ve got everything we need in the club facility-wise and we have more stability behind the scenes.
“I want to see the world and do some travel and enjoy another challenge. It would be hard leaving my family and friends but I always plan to end up on the Gold Coast. When I retire, the Gold Coast will always be here and it’s where I will live.
“I will see how my body is holding up. I might do one more deal with the Titans and then go overseas or I might go earlier.
“It depends how I’m feeling. At the moment, mentally and physically, everything is going really well.”
Coming off-contract can be an unnerving experience for younger NRL players, but Proctor is not stressing about his future.
The fuzzy-haired forward says putting talks with the Titans on ice is not a sign he is wavering in his commitment to the club, insisting he is more concerned with hauling the Coast out of the bottom four.
“It’s my job to lead the group with my actions at training and on the field,” the 22-Test New Zealand star said.
“This may mean putting my personal circumstances to one side for now as I focus on the team, but I feel it’s the right thing to do at this point in time.
“The fact is we need to work harder as a group.”
After three consecutive losses, new Titans coach Justin Holbrook finally broke through in last week’s epic 28-23 defeat of the Tigers.
Proctor is relishing the Holbrook regime.
“Justin is unreal,” he said. “Justin has instilled a new work ethic in the club and it’s paying off, I’m excited about the rest of the year ahead.”