Leo Thompson

[D- voice]

NRL news: League great's 'crazy' admission about Leo Thompson as Knights star closes in on $3.2m move (yahoo.com)

And while the reported $800,000 per season, four-year deal is a lot of money for a prop, NRL great James Graham says he believes it represents a great piece of business for the Raiders.

"I think he's the hottest one on the market," Graham said on The Bye Round. "It definitely seems like it's halfbacks and then front-rowers for players who will be paid the most. I think for a guy like Leo Thompson - and this sounds strange - but he is probably worth more because he doesn't play Origin."

Leo Thompson is seen here in action for the Knights in 2024. Pic: Getty

Graham compared Thompson to some of the best props in the game who are all on deals worth more than $800,000 per season, such as Addin Fonua-Blake, Payne Haas, Joseph Tapine and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. And the former England international says based on Thompson's age and career trajectory, he believes the 24-year-old can cement himself among the game's elite middle forwards.

James Graham says Leo Thompson deal could be a 'steal'
"As crazy as this might sound, that 800k per year compared to [Addin] Fonua-Blake, [Payne] Haas, [Joseph] Tapine and the Tino [Fa'asuamaleaui] types, who are on anywhere between 900 and $1.1 million ... with his best football ahead of him and if he can get into the top of the props category, that 800k could look like a steal," Graham added. "It sounds insane and especially back from when I was playing and even to verbalise it. People will be listening and thinking 'a bargain for 800k, come on mate'. But when you draw comparisons - he's still got that in his locker."

Jammer is looking into murky waters...
Thompson is not worth 800k a season yet, is also a relatively a smaller size as a prop, is he what we really need ?
Importantly, Gus will not overpay no one fearing that might eventually cost us young forwards on the rise !

 

[Total Fool]

Jammer is looking into murky waters...
Thompson is not worth 800k a season yet, is also a relatively a smaller size as a prop, is he what we really need ?
Importantly, Gus will not overpay no one fearing that might eventually cost us young forwards on the rise !

If we can nab that kid from the Titans early and go with what front row rotation we’ve got, hopefully too, DSF comes good and maybe a cameo from Sutton with his body covered in a plaster cast to avoid anymore injuries, we might go a step or two further hopefully in 2025

 

[D- voice]

If we can nab that kid from the Titans early and go with what front row rotation we’ve got, hopefully too, DSF comes good and maybe a cameo from Sutton with his body covered in a plaster cast to avoid anymore injuries, we might go a step or two further hopefully in 2025

Absolutely, it has been said many times by Gus that he will not underpay any player, we can also count on him not overpaying anyone, he has to take care of the wider picture of the salary cap,
I remember him saying "successful clubs fit a 12 million dollars roster into 9.5 million dollars cap", it's so true,
Otherwise we will always be there or there abouts club !

 

[Joelmcevoy2]

Sounds like raiders abit worried saying on there forum saying dogs might make a late bid for thompson

 

[Joelmcevoy2]

 

[Joelmcevoy2]

Read the bottom they saying they reckon dogs might make a late offer to him gus always does this to always waits last minute

 

[Cappuccino]

Read the bottom they saying they reckon dogs might make a late offer to him gus always does this to always waits last minute

Merry Christmas mate
Have a few cones and a couple bundys

 

[The New Legacy]

SO WE HAVE SIGNED HIM!

 

[bradyk]

Read the bottom they saying they reckon dogs might make a late offer to him gus always does this to always waits last minute

Raider have offered a ridiculous amount. He's going there.

 

[Joelmcevoy2]

Raider have offered a ridiculous amount. He's going there.

Not quite sure on that yet gus makes last minute offers all the time

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Y raider gus eh thompson for uh raider huh

 

[Cappuccino]

Y raider gus eh thompson for uh raider huh

We sign him he turns out like Luke for sure

 

[Bulldog1966]

Merry Christmas mate
Have a few cones and a couple bundys

Yes and have them simaltaneously lol

 

[Cappuccino]

Yes and have them simaltaneously lol

In The Shield right after this he makes him swallow it lol

 

[chisdog]

Read the bottom they saying they reckon dogs might make a late offer to him gus always does this to always waits last minute

Pfft! Joel, remember that it is almost Christmas time & these guys have NOTHING to write about. They still have to come up with stories for click bait. These media organisations LOVE you, because you get overzealous by clicking on these made up, fantasy stories.

 

[TheAlmightyJish]

Hughes will clear Thompson next season btw

Highly agree, I see a future origin footballer in Hughes. He's a beast. Will go to another level next season.

 

[Bulldog1966]

Am also a Samuel Hughes fan, first full year of first grade and played 25 games, is on the rise the big fella.

 

[TheAlmightyJish]

Am also a Samuel Hughes fan, first full year of first grade and played 25 games, is on the rise the big fella.

To walk into a understrength middle forward rotation as a rookie and perform the way he did as a starting front rower was extremely commendable

 

[Utility]

lol as if we need to thirst over all these mid tier props when we’ve already got Tom Amone.

 

[Utility]

Am also a Samuel Hughes fan, first full year of first grade and played 25 games, is on the rise the big fella.

Amone and Hughes are the future.