Luke Thompson so adamant it is a no to NRL move, he may print it on a t-shirt
DO NOT be surprised to see Luke Thompson wearing a t-shirt with ‘No!’ on the front during this year’s Great Britain tour.
That will be a no to the flurry of, ‘Are you going to the NRL?’ questions that are certain to come his way.
But he has already found himself at the centre of a frenzy after the Lions were given 20 minutes to flee their Auckland hotel because of a fire.
The St Helens ace is on the shopping list of several sides down under, although there is nothing in links with both him and clubmate Alex Walmsley and Canterbury Bulldogs.
Put simply, he is a St Helens player for 2020 unless someone offers a world record transfer fee.
“I might get one of those t-shirts done actually,” said prop Thompson, who is off contract at Saints at the end of next season.
“I’ve not really thought about it too much. It’ll take care of itself and I’ll just worry about the next four weeks on tour.”
Thompson will start against Tonga on Saturday and that will give their boss Kristian Woolf a taste of what he will be taking charge of at St Helens next season.
Preparations have already been altered after a blaze close to Great Britain's Auckland hotel saw them evacuated and moved to Hamilton a day early.
A spokesman said: "The centre of Auckland has been covered by smoke from the fire.
"The team had been on a day off and left Auckland at 5pm for Hamilton. The team were due to train in Auckland but will now train in Hamilton to ensure preparations can continue for Saturday’s game.
"It all happened very quickly, within a hour of lads being told to pack their bags we were on the coach out of Auckland. It was an impressive operation logistically."
For Thompson, just playing alongside childhood hero James Graham is a big enough thrill – although he did not take the call to tell him he made the Lions’ cut as he was still asleep after winning the Super League Grand Final!
“I didn’t actually answer,” Thompson added. “I tried to ring Jamie Peacock back and he didn’t answer but he left a voicemail. I don’t think it cured my hangover though!
“It’s a but surreal really as I watched many of my heroes, the likes of Paul Sculthorpe, in the shirt. Now I’ll get the chance to pull it on.
“As a kid, I watched James. He was one of my heroes. It was unreal to line up alongside him last year as I watched him on TV, now I’m stood on the pitch beside him.
“He’s just the man. He’s a competitor and a legend of a bloke too. He’s one of those people you want alongside you.
“He’s a really nice fella and looked after me in the last year. He just wants what’s best for you.”
Thompson, 24, is touring alongside school pal Oliver Gildart and arrives being billed as the best front rower in the world by Walmsley.
However, he is not buying into that and feels he can still get better as he gets older!
He added: “It’s all opinions but it’s nice to hear. It doesn’t make my head any bigger or anything like that. I just crack on, I’m the same person and I’ll do my job.”
Two Australian-born players in Lachlan Coote and Jackson Hastings - who both qualify through grandparents - are in line to make their Great Britain debuts.
Another one, Blake Austin, misses out as Gareth Widdop has landed the sought after number six jersey, with Jonny Lomax set to be on the bench. Skipper Graham moves from prop to loose forward.
Tonga have named Super League stars Ben Murdoch-Masila and Tui Lolohea, as well as Hull new boy Manu Ma’u, in their side.
