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On a day when the club will install a new board and captain, Corey Thompson wants to prove he has what it takes to become Canterbury's new fullback.
Thompson's immediate focus is his Bulldogs debut in Sunday's ''Back to Belmore'' trial against South Sydney, where he is a contender for the No.1 jersey vacated by Ben Barba. However, the 23-year-old has already begun planning for life after football. ''I'm going to study criminal justice, get back into the airport to become a customs officer,'' he said.
''When I was in high school, I worked at the airport as a baggage handler and I really enjoyed it. I thought I'd take it that step further and make a career out of it.''
But first he needs to prove to coach Des Hasler that he can handle the pressure of the custodian role. Thompson, off contract at the end of the season, is part of a 33-man squad that includes fellow fullback candidates Sam Perrett, Josh Morris, Drury Low, Krisnan Inu and Tyrone Peachey.
A prolific try-scorer for Easts Tigers in the Queensland-based Intrust Super Cup, Thompson was signed up by the Bulldogs midway through last season. But breaking his hand in just his third NSW Cup appearance sidelined him for 10 weeks. Now injury free and with a full pre-season under his belt, the Mount Gravatt junior is a chance of marking up on Dally M winner Barba when the Bulldogs open the season against Brisbane.
''Benny was a real good player for the club but since he left a few of the boys have really stood up and put their hand up for the No.1,'' he said.
''It's given the boys more confidence to come out of their shell and show what they have. It would mean the world [to make first grade]. I'd play my hardest to prove - if I don't get the No.1 - that I deserve a place somewhere in the 17.''
Thompson is yet to play an NRL game but he has been tutored by the best in the business.
He was so impressive in a Sevens rugby tournament that he was invited to an Australian camp by Michael O'Connor. And he spent last pre-season under Craig Bellamy, although Melbourne could not afford to fit him under their salary cap. Now he is learning from dual-premiership winner Hasler. ''Craig and Des are pretty much the same in how they run their team and their expectations of their players,'' he said. ''I learnt a lot there and I think it helped me coming down to the Bulldogs, gave me a clue of what to expect.''
A new fullback will not be the only change at Belmore on Monday. Frank Pritchard will share the captaincy duties on a full-time basis with Michael Ennis, and members will go back to Canterbury League Club to vote for a new board.
Director Paul Dunn is attempting to overthrow incumbent chairman Ray Dib at the ballot box, in what has become a nasty campaign after the Dunn faction falsely claimed another candidate, Steve Mortimer, on their ticket. However, Mortimer is a staunch Dib supporter and has vowed to quit the board if the chairman is dumped.
Source
Thompson's immediate focus is his Bulldogs debut in Sunday's ''Back to Belmore'' trial against South Sydney, where he is a contender for the No.1 jersey vacated by Ben Barba. However, the 23-year-old has already begun planning for life after football. ''I'm going to study criminal justice, get back into the airport to become a customs officer,'' he said.
''When I was in high school, I worked at the airport as a baggage handler and I really enjoyed it. I thought I'd take it that step further and make a career out of it.''
But first he needs to prove to coach Des Hasler that he can handle the pressure of the custodian role. Thompson, off contract at the end of the season, is part of a 33-man squad that includes fellow fullback candidates Sam Perrett, Josh Morris, Drury Low, Krisnan Inu and Tyrone Peachey.
A prolific try-scorer for Easts Tigers in the Queensland-based Intrust Super Cup, Thompson was signed up by the Bulldogs midway through last season. But breaking his hand in just his third NSW Cup appearance sidelined him for 10 weeks. Now injury free and with a full pre-season under his belt, the Mount Gravatt junior is a chance of marking up on Dally M winner Barba when the Bulldogs open the season against Brisbane.
''Benny was a real good player for the club but since he left a few of the boys have really stood up and put their hand up for the No.1,'' he said.
''It's given the boys more confidence to come out of their shell and show what they have. It would mean the world [to make first grade]. I'd play my hardest to prove - if I don't get the No.1 - that I deserve a place somewhere in the 17.''
Thompson is yet to play an NRL game but he has been tutored by the best in the business.
He was so impressive in a Sevens rugby tournament that he was invited to an Australian camp by Michael O'Connor. And he spent last pre-season under Craig Bellamy, although Melbourne could not afford to fit him under their salary cap. Now he is learning from dual-premiership winner Hasler. ''Craig and Des are pretty much the same in how they run their team and their expectations of their players,'' he said. ''I learnt a lot there and I think it helped me coming down to the Bulldogs, gave me a clue of what to expect.''
A new fullback will not be the only change at Belmore on Monday. Frank Pritchard will share the captaincy duties on a full-time basis with Michael Ennis, and members will go back to Canterbury League Club to vote for a new board.
Director Paul Dunn is attempting to overthrow incumbent chairman Ray Dib at the ballot box, in what has become a nasty campaign after the Dunn faction falsely claimed another candidate, Steve Mortimer, on their ticket. However, Mortimer is a staunch Dib supporter and has vowed to quit the board if the chairman is dumped.
Source
