Official Dogs sign Leo Thompson (2026)

Haddaway said:
I like the signing.

I'm nit going to say top 4 like others for 26, but our pack is looking pretty good. Especially if Sam can develop more along with Hayes, Todd and Underhill.

Is there one called Spinks? .Anyway what I've seen of him if that's his name, he looks good too.
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People comparing to May ...

There is one comparison to make. We have May the exact same chance where he could join us as long as he came for the right reasons.

Club over money.

He chose money, so there's little to discuss imo.

Far better off to have Thompson he actually bought into the project and came for less. He's going to absolutely gun it here
 
Big_Kahunas said:
For the first time in my life, I have watched a few Knights games on Kayo against the top teams last year just to see how Thompson plays. Boy it's a punish watching Knights games - they just don't know how to get it to Ponga. Besides the point, my notes are:
- He played as a middle in defence. No big hits. Just wraps the ball up or around the legs
- In attack he plays in the middle or to the left side of the field and doesn't usually take the first hit up - It was Saifiti
- Does around 8-14 hitups a game and does 30+ tackles a game
- The Knights used him a lot as a decoy runner
- He can be found in defence shirt grabbing when any footwork is done in the defensive line
- He plays anywhere between 40-55 minutes
- Doesn't look to offload
- He does put in effort as the B defender

I'm thinking if CC plays him the same way, that it may free up King who has a decent offload in him. We need someone that can cause second phase plays.

Questions are for now - being the alpha forward in our team:
- Can he lay on a big hit?
- Does he have an offload in him?
- Can he take 20 hitups a game with 8m+ gain per hit up
- Can he play quality 60 minutes when required

That is what the top tier alphas are doing at the moment - Haas, Topine, Tino, AFB and JFH
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I watched the semi against The Cowboys, and you have summed up his game very well in my opinion.

One part of his game that did impress was his leg speed ..... he didn't have any opportunities to run at a retreating defense in The Cowboys game but when he does i can see him being a handful. His carries have plenty of energy.

He will be 25 and have played around 90 NRL games in 2026 ...... entering his prime years with his body well-conditioned to the rigors of playing prop in the NRL.

There is a very good chance he will improve for the duration of his contract with us as he is reportable a great trainer and clubman.

Goes by the nickname of "Little Fish" after Fisher Harris which is quite a complement.
 
Tassie Devil said:
People comparing to May ...

There is one comparison to make. We have May the exact same chance where he could join us as long as he came for the right reasons.

Club over money.

He chose money, so there's little to discuss imo.

Far better off to have Thompson he actually bought into the project and came for less. He's going to absolutely gun it here
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And Gus and CC simply preferred Thompson ..... he was always the man they wanted (at the right price of course)

Thompson was on the radar well before May unexpectedly became available.

If we wanted May we would have signed him in my opinion.
 
billy beane said:
I watched the semi against The Cowboys, and you have summed up his game very well in my opinion.

One part of his game that did impress was his leg speed ..... he didn't have any opportunities to run at a retreating defense in The Cowboys game but when he does i can see him being a handful. His carries have plenty of energy.

He will be 25 and have played around 90 NRL games in 2026 ...... entering his prime years with his body well-conditioned to the rigors of playing prop in the NRL.

There is a very good chance he will improve for the duration of his contract with us as he is reportable a great trainer and clubman.

Goes by the nickname of "Little Fish" after Fisher Harris which is quite a complement.
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I totally agree. Thompson has a lot of upside potential to him and his attitude will fit in nicely to what we're building at the club.

That game against the cowboys he got flattened by Taumalolo. CC needs to teach him a bit of a step before the line...
 
Yeah, he got hammered ..... on the bright side at least, he held the pill.

There is another where Uele from The Sharks levels him in an even bigger hit.

Clearly needs to work on some deception lol .......
 
billy beane said:
Yeah, he got hammered ..... on the bright side at least, he held the pill.

There is another where Uele from The Sharks levels him in an even bigger hit.

Clearly needs to work on some deception lol .......
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Thompson is tough, just gets up.The Uele hit saving grace was it was the biggest hospital pass of the year from his dummy half.
 
Big_Kahunas said:
I totally agree. Thompson has a lot of upside potential to him and his attitude will fit in nicely to what we're building at the club.

That game against the cowboys he got flattened by Taumalolo. CC needs to teach him a bit of a step before the line...
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I watched some highlights and leg speed does seem to be one area where he is above average. In other aspects it is hard to be sure because of the sides he has been playing with and his age.
He seems to be the kind of player who has to be comfortable with the people around him and to connect with his team mates.
Gus and Ciro understand this.
Thompson's best seasons should be 2028 and 2029.
Posters on this forum understand it's a mistake for recruitment to be simply looking for the next JFH, NAS or AFB. It is impossible to predict which players will make it to that level.
That's why it is vital to have as many big forwards in the pipeline as possible. Young forwards like Thompson. One (or more) top-shelf props will eventually emerge.
 
Dogs4EVA-1 said:
Maybe if the Knights sign Hazelton and he gets an early release to join Knights immediately as the Sharks have so many middles now and are tight against the cap, maybe Leo gets an early release to join us this season too?? that suits everyone... The Knights aren't going anywhere, they STINK and Hazelton wont get as many minutes this year as AFB plays long minutes each week..
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Knights fans love a cult hero. Signing Hazelton and Bunty Afoa would be good for them.
 
Harry Oz said:
I watched some highlights and leg speed does seem to be one area where he is above average. In other aspects it is hard to be sure because of the sides he has been playing with and his age.
He seems to be the kind of player who has to be comfortable with the people around him and to connect with his team mates.
Gus and Ciro understand this.
Thompson's best seasons should be 2028 and 2029.
Posters on this forum understand it's a mistake for recruitment to be simply looking for the next JFH, NAS or AFB. It is impossible to predict which players will make it to that level.
That's why it is vital to have as many big forwards in the pipeline as possible. Young forwards like Thompson. One (or more) top-shelf props will eventually emerge.
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Good call. Todd and Underhill are the most likely.

Another plus for Thompson is that he won't play origin.
 
Heckler said:
Too many JD's

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Must be a bit confusing distributing the mail at the club with a Cameron Ciraldo as well as a Cameron Ciradio. These guys would constantly be getting mail intended for the other one.
 
billy beane said:
Yeah, he got hammered ..... on the bright side at least, he held the pill.

There is another where Uele from The Sharks levels him in an even bigger hit.

Clearly needs to work on some deception lol .......
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Normally when big forwards get hammnered like that is because of a too upright running style and torso square on to the defence.
Plus receiving the ball a split second before coming in contact with defenders dosent help along with the only player who was coming
forward without any dummy runners.
 
Scoooby said:
It’s a beautiful signing .. pitty we hav to wait another year to see him in the blue a white!!
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If we can jag Pahulu also (possibly for 25) 2026 will see our window totally open. At least it’s a positive move filling holes that need filling.

Hopefully between King, Huges, Curran, Amone. With Undhill and Todd developing our middle will be a question of who we have to let go NOT we don’t have a middle.
 
Why do people think getting Pahulu early improves us this year? He’s 20. Sure will be helpful for his development coming here 12 months in advance but he isn’t making a serious impact until 2026 or later
 
ElMagicElMasri said:
Why do people think getting Pahulu early improves us this year? He’s 20. Sure will be helpful for his development coming here 12 months in advance but he isn’t making a serious impact until 2026 or later
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depends how good he is, plenty of 20 yo's have made massive differences. He pretty much played a whole season last year.
 
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