NRL star set for huge Super League move after huge controversy

As Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC and others try to finish the Super League season on a strong note, the NRL is drawing to a close but one club is surrounded by huge controversy in the shape of the Canterbury Bulldogs.

A huge dispute has erupted after a player was punished for being late to training by having to constantly wrestle his teammates for a 12 minute period until exhaustion set in.

The player is now threatening legal action and it is believed that he will exit the club.

This represents an opportunity for Super League clubs to swoop in and sign the unnamed star player.

More targets are also set to emerge at Canterbury Bulldogs where problems at the club have prompted a crisis meeting about the clubs future after which Braidon Burns has been told by Phil Gould he is surplus to requirements.

The centre formerly of South Sydney Rabbitohs is headed to Super League according to the Daily Telegraph.

He is the first of many Bulldogs stars to leave and this could include Luke Thompson.

Channel 9 reporter Danny Weidler said on the Wide World of Sports: “This will probably get people scratching their head a little bit but Luke Thompson is telling people he would like to play for the Roosters for less.

“We’ve heard that story before. There’s been an approach that Thompson would like to go to the Roosters and he’s got an association with (incoming assistant coach) Justin Holbrook.

“I think there’s a couple of other clubs that would like Luke Thompson. I don’t know whether (Phil Gould’s) Dogs are still in with a chance of keeping him or if they even want him, I don’t know.

“I do know that Luke Thompson has been linked (to the Roosters), there was an approach to Nick Politis, the chairman of the Roosters.

“It’ll be interesting to see if that goes through. I don’t know how they fit him into the cap though.”

Recently Thompson spoke about his future and his injury.

“I could never write the year off,” Thompson said to the Daily Telegraph.

“Not playing this year never entered my mind. All year I’ve been trying to get back as soon as I could. My main focus was to get back and help the lads.

“It has taken longer than I hoped but it’ll be good to get back out there.

“I was back in the gym a week after surgery. You can’t train on your feet but you can do other stuff. I kept sitting in the team video sessions because I had to keep footy on my mind.

“Because as soon as I was ready to come back I had to be ready to go. It took longer than expected but all the hard work is going to pay off.”

When asked about his future, he said: “It’s a bit of a unique situation. I missed the back-end of last year and then played a World Cup. I came in ready for a big season and then I got injured.

“I know my values and what I bring to a club and team. For me it’s reminding people because I have not been there for a quite a while now. Injury can make you better or define you. I always have mindset to get it right.”

Last week, Thompson made a return to the reserves for Bulldogs.

“I felt really good,” Thompson said. “The foot felt good and my lungs were better than I expected. It gave me a lot of confidence. Straight away I could feel that everything I’d done was starting to pay me back.”