British Bulldog Luke Thompson heading to NRL

England forward Luke Thompson is expected to arrive in Australia within days and begin preparing for his NRL debut.

Luke Thompson is considered one of the best front rowers in the game. Picture: Getty Images

England forward Luke Thompson is expected to arrive in Australia within days and begin preparing for his NRL debut in a Melbourne hotel room after Canterbury on Friday night confirmed they had reached a deal with St Helens for his early arrival.

Thompson, who had already agreed to a long-term deal with the Bulldogs from next season, was granted a release by St Helens after Canterbury agreed to pay a transfer fee to free him from his Super League contract.

The Bulldogs have organised flights but the 25-year-old and Canterbury coach Dean Pay will be forced to bide their time due to the strict quarantine requirements governing his arrival.

The Weekend Australian revealed earlier this week that the Bulldogs were close to securing Thompson ahead of schedule and the parties are believed to have thrashed out the finer points of the deal on Thursday night, which was confirmed on Friday night.

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Thompson, regarded as the best forward in Super League and one of the best front rowers in the world, will give the Bulldogs and the embattled Pay a major boost as they attempt to get their season on track.

“We want to thank St Helens for seeing the opportunity for Luke,” Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill said.

“He has been great for them over many years. We’re really excited he is able to come out here and show our fans and members how good he is.

“He is a good signing for us, he comes at a really good time. He is going to join us and give us a lift at a pretty important part of the year.”

Thompson will spend a fortnight in Victoria, where he will be allowed to exercise in his hotel room and communicate with his teammates and coaches via Zoom.

He will then join his teammates in Sydney and he could debut against South Sydney in three weeks, although it is more likely the club will give him time to work with his teammates and on his match fitness before thrusting him into the NRL.

Melbourne was the chosen destination for his arrival because NSW forbids exercise equipment in a hotel room while in isolation. It is understood the club has organised for his room in Melbourne to be furnished with a makeshift gym and set up a nutrition plan to ensure he is in the best shape when he is able to cross the border into NSW.

“So we’re doing everything we can to limit the time that he needs to prepare to play,” Hill said.

“We will have to set up a regular dialogue – 14 days in isolation will have its challenges. We will need to help him with that structure, help him get through that time and prepare him to play in the NRL.”

Thompson’s arrival will leave behind scars. The Weekend Australian understands that St Helens officials are disappointed with the Bulldogs’ handling of the situation, their belief that Thompson was enticed to break his contract and secure an early move.

St Helens had brokered an agreement with the players in their squad to take a 10 per cent pay cut. That decision paved the way for Thompson to secure a release, albeit only after the Bulldogs paid a transfer fee for the forward.

Sources close to the talks said the Super League giants harboured no ill-will towards Thompson, but were disappointed with the part Canterbury played in the process.

Bulldogs supporters will be delighted with the outcome nonetheless. The 25-year-old was pursued by a host of clubs and the Bulldogs only secured his signature after Hill flew to England to deliver the club’s pitch in person.