Bush Beat: Manly forward Joel Thompson reveals desire to finish career in country footy

Manly back-rower and proud country boy Joel Thompson says there is a groundswell of support from current NRL players to finish their careers with a stint in the bush.

Joel Thompson wants to finish his footy career in the bush. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Manly back-rower and proud country boy Joel Thompson says there is a groundswell of support from current NRL players to finish their careers with a stint in the bush.

Thompson is currently weighing up joining the English Super League next season but he also has aspirations of playing in the country when he retires.

The Ivanhoe-born forward played his junior football with the Forbes Magpies before the Canberra Raiders signed him in 2008.

Joel Thompson wants to finish his footy career in the bush. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Thompson believes country clubs are crying out for NRL players to return to regional areas and pass on their knowledge.

“I think it is great for players to go back and play in the bush,” Thompson said.

“Whenever I finish professional footy I’d like to go and captain-coach a country team.

“There are a few teams I’d like to be involved with, whether it is the Forbes Magpies or the Gundagai Tigers.

“You can show them the skill and knowledge that you’ve learnt through different NRL systems and pass them on to young country lads that miss out on different opportunities.

“It is good for country footy.”

Thompson believes he can give back to the game by playing in the country. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

As seen through the likes of Jamie Lyon (Ballina), Glenn Stewart (Wests Illawarra) and Terry Campese (Queanbeyan Blues), an NRL player’s influence on a country team extend well beyond the field.

Thompson says this is a major reason why current players should seriously consider joining a bush side post their first grade careers.

“Because it isn’t always about the 80 minutes on the field in the bush,” he said.

“It is also about the important role that the players can have off it and the impact they can have on younger players.

“They can have that mentor role.

Terry Campese is one of many stars to return to his local club. Source: Facebook

“The more players we can have out there doing that and playing that part the better.

“It’s not just important for rugby league but those communities.”

Thompson knows firsthand how influential community work can be.

He devotes endless hours to helping others through his The Mindset Project program, which focuses on giving people tools and strategies to deal with mental health.

“It has been awesome and I love doing it and I’ll definitely continue it when I finish playing.

“There was a period there where it was just always footy, footy for me.

“I just needed a bit of a balance.

“I started volunteering and I fell in love with giving back because I could see the impact it had.

“I still get messages now from people. It has been a big part of my life and improving me as a person and player.”

Originally published as Bush Beat: Manly forward Joel Thompson reveals desire to finish career in country footy