Former St Helens forward Luke Thompson is no longer for sale.
The Canterbury Bulldogs had put Thompson on the open market months ago, but the club has done a sensational u-turn and told the prop that he is safe at the club for at least another two years.
Thompson, who is on around $850,000 a year, had attracted the attention of two rival NRL sides, but Canterbury now seem destined to keep the powerful forward – especially when rival clubs asked the club to contribute to the deal.
“We were having a look at him,” said a rival NRL coach to News Corp, who asked not to be named.
“But we were told he is no longer on the market. I don’t think it was going to work out for them (the Bulldogs) so he is staying.”
Thompson had an extension request for 2024 and beyond rejected, with the 26-year-old free to talk to other clubs in a bid to earn a long-term deal.
However, such a deal is now dead in the water and the Merseysider remains committed to the Bulldogs cause.
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