Luke Thompson: St Helens prop forward to join Canterbury Bulldogs at end of season
- Published
Academy graduate Luke Thompson, who helped win the Grand Final at Old Trafford last October, has been with Saints since the age of 11
St Helens forward Luke Thompson will leave the defending Super League champions at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old prop, who is in the final year of his contract with Saints, will join Australian NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs.
"We accept and totally respect Luke's decision," said Saints chairman Eamonn McManus.
"There's no hiding from the fact that this is a bitter disappointment to all of us."
England and Great Britain international Thompson has scored 25 tries in 158 appearances for Saints, helping them win Super League Grand Final titles, first from the bench against Wigan in 2014 and then again in 2019.
He collected the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match in last season's final against Salford - as well as helping Saints win three League Leaders' Shields in 2014, 2018 and 2019.
"We were informed last week that Luke has decided to join Canterbury Bulldogs next season," added McManus. "We wish him nothing but success in his career and in his life.
"We are absolutely sure that he will be absolutely committed to the club and to his team-mates for the rest of this season.
"If ever he decides to return to England and to Super League then there would be a red carpet waiting for him at St Helens."
Thompson follows the same route taken by another Saints forward James Graham, now his England and Great Britain team-mate, who joined Canterbury in 2012 and helped them to top the NRL table and reach the Grand Final in his first season.