It’s been a tumultuous few months for former St Helens star Luke Thompson at the Canterbury Bulldogs.
First, he has had to deal with ongoing problems with his concussion injury before returning home to take care of his sick mother back in the UK.
Now, it appears as though he has been struck down by something nasty as he was absent from Canterbury training.
Thompson had been pencilled in to start at loose forward for the Bulldogs as they take on the Cronulla Sharks this weekend, but obviously he will no longer be in contention.
The end of the season can perhaps not come quick enough for the Englishman, with the World Cup in sight after a dismal season at Belmore it could be the perfect tonic for the former Saints man to get back on the horse in terms of consistent performances.
That being said, Thompson continues to be linked with a move away.
The Daily Telegraph previously stated about Thompson after revealing his $750,000 deal with the Bulldogs: “Proving a disastrous buy for Canterbury with the English international managing 10, 15 and 12 games respectively over the past three seasons. Despite his immense talent, the investment doesn’t justify the reward, which is why Thompson is consistently being shopped by the Dogs to rival clubs. He still has one-year remaining on his contract for 2023.”
He had been linked with a move to the Wests Tigers earlier in the year and there had been murmurings of a potential Super League move.
The Canterbury man had, however, previously been granted compassionate leave to return home to see his sick mother.
Thompson has since opened up on that heartache and how he practically saved his mum’s life.
“I got a phone call from my brother back home, he said he didn’t think my mum had long left,” Thompson told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“She’s not been too well for a while, but at the age of 54 I’ve not seen that coming. She was a bit in denial with what’s going on, she was jaundiced and bright yellow.
“My brother couldn’t persuade her to go to the hospital. I stayed with for three nights and managed to persuade her to go to the hospital. If I hadn’t gone home, she might not be here now.
“She’s gotten a bit better. I went home to help her get the treatment. I pretty much saved her life.
“We got her the care she needed so that she’s in the best place and I could then come home and finish the season.”
It remains to be seen what the rest of 2022 looks like for Thompson, but Canterbury will be hoping to get him back on the field and fighting fit sooner rather than later.
