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NRL 2018: Wests Tigers' Corey Thompson describes fullback role as 'perfect' before potential clash with James Tedesco's Sydney Roosters
He's the smallest and perhaps least celebrated out of a string of summer arrivals, but replacing James Tedesco in the Tigers No.1 jersey and then lining up against him in the opening round is doing little to faze surprise fullback frontrunner Corey Thompson.
The pint-sized 27-year-old, who rose to prominence as a member of the Bulldogs' grand final side in 2014 before a two-year switch to the Super League, is favoured to edge out Tui Lolohea as Ivan Cleary's fullback to start the season.
Lolohea was thought to be the natural No.1 choice for Cleary, but the fact the Tigers have registered their interest in off-contract Warriors ace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suggests nothing is set in stone, which means they could well turn to one of the smallest men in the game to fill the role in the interim for a baptism of fire against Tedesco's Roosters.
"Tui's a great fullback and he's a gun on the field, but I'm going to do all I can to get on the field whether it be on the wing, centre, fullback ... wherever," Thompson said.
"I'm going to train my hardest and play my hardest to try to get a spot. The amount of good backs we have here everyone is pushing each other hard to get a spot and that should make the team better.
"I was at the Bulldogs when [Tedesco] was at the Tigers and it was difficult to play against him. You would kick-chase and somehow he would beat five of you and then he would be off down the field."
"I pulled up well," Tedesco told the Roosters' website. "The body felt good and I felt pretty fit. There's a lot to improve on, but it's a good starting point."
He's the smallest and perhaps least celebrated out of a string of summer arrivals, but replacing James Tedesco in the Tigers No.1 jersey and then lining up against him in the opening round is doing little to faze surprise fullback frontrunner Corey Thompson.
The pint-sized 27-year-old, who rose to prominence as a member of the Bulldogs' grand final side in 2014 before a two-year switch to the Super League, is favoured to edge out Tui Lolohea as Ivan Cleary's fullback to start the season.
Lolohea was thought to be the natural No.1 choice for Cleary, but the fact the Tigers have registered their interest in off-contract Warriors ace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suggests nothing is set in stone, which means they could well turn to one of the smallest men in the game to fill the role in the interim for a baptism of fire against Tedesco's Roosters.
"Tui's a great fullback and he's a gun on the field, but I'm going to do all I can to get on the field whether it be on the wing, centre, fullback ... wherever," Thompson said.
"I'm going to train my hardest and play my hardest to try to get a spot. The amount of good backs we have here everyone is pushing each other hard to get a spot and that should make the team better.
"I was at the Bulldogs when [Tedesco] was at the Tigers and it was difficult to play against him. You would kick-chase and somehow he would beat five of you and then he would be off down the field."
"I pulled up well," Tedesco told the Roosters' website. "The body felt good and I felt pretty fit. There's a lot to improve on, but it's a good starting point."
