Newcastle Knights center Bradman Best expresses sadness over losing star prop Leo Thompson to the Canterbury Bulldogs. Thompson opted for a lucrative four-year deal with the Bulldogs, despite offers from the Knights and the Canberra Raiders.
Knights center Bradman Best has admitted losing international prop Leo Thompson to the Bulldogs is a bitter pill to swallow for Newcastle. Thompson has signed a four-year deal with the Bulldogs from 2026 to 2029 after rejecting an extension offer from the Knights and a lucrative $3.5 million deal from the Raiders. There were no shortage of clubs interested in Thompson as arguably the most sought after forward in the game.
The Knights were desperate to keep him after letting Daniel Saifiti leave to join the Dolphins, but they couldn’t match the money on offer from the Bulldogs. Best told reporters on Tuesday that Thompson’s defection was bittersweet for the Knights club and his teammates.“He is such a good player, but I’m so happy for him. He has worked so hard to get this opportunity to secure a spot for him and his family.” Best admitted the Knights will miss Thompson’s leadership and go forward up front, but is excited to see what he can do in his final season in Newcastle before making the switch to the Bulldogs.“We wish we could have had him, he’s probably a leader within the group here and leads from the front.“He’s got goals and ambitions as well and he deserves this.“He’s gonna lead from the front, we have still got him for a year and he’s not gonna leave any stone unturned.” Thompson has scored two tries in 64 NRL games for the Knights since his debut in 2022, while he has also played five Tests for New Zealand to date. Ironically his twin brother will join the Knights in 2025 from rugby union, but the pair will only have one season together in Newcastle
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