NRL 2023: The unlikely NRL rise of Newcastle Knights forward Leo Thompson

Four years after joking in a Kiwi pub about giving the NRL a crack, Leo Thompson is preparing to lead Newcastle’s semi-final charge, writes FATIMA KDOUH.

Knights forward Leo Thompson. Credit: NRL Images.

Four years after joking in a New Zealand pub about giving the NRL ‘a crack’, Leo Thompson, a rising union prospect who had never played a game of league, is preparing to lead Newcastle’s semi-final charge.

At the time, Thompson brushed off the chat with former Warriors prop Charlie Gubb as nothing more than a bit of banter and didn’t give the conversation a second thought.

Unbeknown to Thompson, Gubb had taken upon himself to reach out to rugby league recruitment guru, the late Peter Mulholland.

It took only a single game of rugby for Mulholland to offer Thompson a spot in Canberra’s squad in late 2019.

“He recruited me off one game, I played for the Maori under 20s against Fiji,” Thompson said.

“The reason why he watched the game was because I was out at a pub one night with Charlie Gubb, I played union with him in Wellington, and I was telling how I was interested in giving rugby league a crack.

“I forgot all about it.

“But in the meantime, Charlie got a hold of Peter and told him to watch that game, and Peter got my number and contacted me the week after.”

Knights forward Leo Thompson poses with his dad during his time with the Raiders: Credit: Instagram.

While Thompson jumped at the opportunity to join the Raiders, a sense of dread quickly overcame the then 19-year old.

Thompson had never played a single game of rugby league, even the simple task of playing the ball was a challenge.

“It took me a while to learn the rules. It was like speaking a different language, one I didn’t understand,” Thompson revealed.

“They’d yell out a call to me or play and I would have no idea what they were asking me to do. I had no idea.

“I had to learn the basics, like how to play the ball properly. It took me a while to pick it up.”

The learning curve was made even more difficult given it was the first time Thompson had been separated from his identical twin brother Tyrone, who is a Super Rugby and All Blacks Maori star.

“He was excited for me. It was a weird moment for us. Growing up we did everything together … from the first day at school to everything else,” Thompson said.

“The first month being away from him was hard.”

What makes Thompson’s NRL rise even more remarkable is the fact that the 23-year old didn’t play any games other than a trial match in his first year at Canberra after the reserve grade competition was cancelled due to Covid in 2020.

Knights forward Leo Thompson (left) and brother Tyrone (right). Credit: Instagram.

He played 12 games in the NSW Cup the following year before joining the Knights in season 2022, where he made his NRL debut playing 16 games most off the bench.

Now, not only does Thompson have the basics covered, the prop is enjoying a breakout year in the NRL and is preparing to lead Newcastle’s charge in Saturday’s semi-final against the Warriors.

Thompson’s twin, Tyrone, will be cheering him from the stands at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The brothers seemed destined to make a name for themselves as Super Rugby stars but Thompson is now hoping the field they one day grace together will be McDonald Jones Stadium as Knights.

“My family was rugby union through and through but I have converted them now,” Thompson said.

“I’m trying to convert him (Tyrone) too.

“I reckon he does (want to play NRL) but he still has one more year at the Chiefs.

“But I really hope we play NRL together one day.”

Leo Thompson takes a hit up for the Knights. Credit: NRL Images.

While the rugby codes split the Thompson twins, the allegiance of their New Zealand based family won’t be up for debate on Saturday.

“We are a union family but when it comes to league we always supported the Warriors being from there, but nah, I gave all my family heaps of Knights gear the last time I went home,” Thompson said.

“I reckon around 20 family members will be there but on Saturday they’ll be on “Team Leo Thompson’ all dressed up in the Knights colours.”

Thompson also has the same feverish support among his Knights teammates.

In a pack boasting representative stars like Tyson Frizell and Jacob and Daniel Saifiti, five-eighth Tyson Gamble believes Thompson is the unsung hero of the Newcastle’s engine room.

“I love being his teammate, I love it when he’s standing next to me. He’s a warrior on the field,” Gamble said.

“Leo is probably one of the hardest workers in the room. It probably goes unnoticed a lot because of the forward pack we have but Leo is an absolute workhorse. He flies under the radar for us.

“He carries the ball hard, he defends hard and he’s always going to turn up for you.

“I don’t think he’s played a bad game for us all year. He’s had a hell of a year. He’s a weapon.”