Luke Thompson: Wigan coach responds to Super League transfer speculation
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Wigan boss Matt Peet has responded to reports linking the side to current Canterbury Bulldogs prop forward and England international Luke Thompson.
Reporting on Wide World of Sports, ‘Moley’ has linked the 27-year-old with a return to Super League.
Thompson is currently sidelined through a serious footy injury sustained during pre-season training and is yet to feature this year in the NRL for the Bulldogs.
The reports in Australia have suggested that Wigan have offered Thompson a monster deal that his current side can’t match, with a four-year contract reportedly on the table.
Thompson’s current deal is said to be worth $800,000 a season, around £430,000.
He remains without a contract for 2024, and Peet has admitted his admiration of the two-time Super League Grand Final winner.
However, the Wigan boss has rubbished the claims involving the numbers.
Wigan boss confirms Luke Thompson truth
“He’s certainly a player I admire,” Peet told Love Rugby League.
“He obviously came through at St Helens and he’s fantastic player.
“He’s a player that we track and we keep an eye on what’s happening there.
“As far as the report and the figures on the story quoted, it was false.
“But he is a player that we, and I, admire and would be interested, if he was to become available.
“But in terms of the figures being tossed about, it wasn’t factual.”
The Great Britain international made the move Down Under in 2020 from St Helens, initially signing on a three-year deal with Canterbury Bulldogs.
He has made 38 appearances in the competition to date, while he made his professional debut in 2013 for St Helens against London Broncos.
Thompson won Super League Grand Finals in 2014 and 2019 against Wigan and Salford respectively.
He made his England international debut in 2018 against France at the Leigh Sports Village, and was later selected in Wayne Bennett’s Great Britain squad for their tour Down Under in 2019.
To date, Thompson has made seven appearances for England, and also represented his home nation at the delayed 2021 World Cup on home soil.
He featured in games against Samoa and France in the group stages of the tournament, and again in the semi-final defeat to Matt Parish’s side at the Emirates Stadium.
Thompson was a try-scorer in the 42-18 win over France in Bolton.
READ NEXT: The right timing pivotal as Wigan boss ensures youngsters will be given a chance in 2023
