Latest twist in Luke Thompson saga as Canterbury vaccine ultimatum hits home

Luke Thompson has officially received his first vaccination against COVID-19 after facing an ultimatum from the Canterbury Bulldogs.

That club, along with the Penrith Panthers and Cronulla Sharks, have effectively told their stars to get the jab or move on.

Thompson’s newest teammate John Asiata has notified Canterbury officials that he will not be a Bulldogs player in 2022 following the protocol after penning a deal with the Bulldogs ahead of the 2022 NRL season.

However, former St Helens forward and staunch anti-vaxxer Thompson has changed his mind and has reportedly had his first inoculation, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Players scheduled to return who are not vaccinated will be refused entry by some Sydney clubs under New South Wales county health orders, which means that those players will be given home training regimes.

Also under NSW health orders, if you are not fully-vaccinated you cannot visit a stadium, gym, or public swimming pool.

And, the Bulldogs hierarchy had issued a notice that player needed to be double-vaccinated in time for the club’s return to pre-season training on November 1.

Thompson, however set up his own home gym in a bid to keep up his fitness during the off-season in a previously defiant rebuttal of Canterbury’s policy.