How $1.4m star’s vax stance could trigger halves shake-up
Bulldogs star Luke Thompson is free to leave the club in a move that has potentially huge ramifications for Mitchell Pearce and Luke Brooks.
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Luke Thompson’s role at the Bulldogs could look very different next year because of one decision that could not only impact his future but that of a rival player.
That is according to Danny Weidler, who reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday that Thompson is clashing with Bulldogs management over the Covid-19 vaccination.
The report claims that Thompson has repeatedly made it clear he does not want to be vaccinated and that he did not want to wear mask when required after the competition was relocated.
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That stance is at odds with the club’s request all players be double vaccinated before the start of pre-season training.
As such, Weidler reports the Bulldogs would be on board with Thompson, who has around $1.4 million left on his contract, leaving the club.
That could have an immediate flow-on effect on the future of Tigers halfback Luke Brooks.
Brooks’ management is understood to be pushing for a release with it previously reported that he would prefer not to be coached by Michael Maguire.
The Bulldogs and Knights have both been linked to the playmaker, with Newcastle potentially on the lookout for a new halfback with Mitchell Pearce pushing for an exit to Catalans.
It was only on Saturday that Brooks was floated as a suitable replacement for Pearce, who is expected to make a formal trade request over the weekend to leave the Knights.
Trent Barrett’s men, on the other hand, already have a halfback in Kyle Flanagan and would find it hard to move him on.
As a result, any move for Brooks would require the Bulldogs to, at least in the short-term, accept two halfbacks eating up a fair chunk of their salary cap.
Originally published as How $1.4m star’s vax stance could trigger halves shake-up
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