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Leo Thompson

Leo Thompson
Personal information
Born (2000-05-28) 28 May 2000 (age 24)
Muriwai, Gisborne, New Zealand
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight107 kg (16 st 12 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022– Newcastle Knights 64 2 0 0 8
2026 Canterbury Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0
Total 64 2 0 0 8
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023–24 Māori All Stars 2 0 0 0 0
2023–24 New Zealand 4 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 14 September 2024
RelativesTyrone Thompson (twin brother)

Leo Thompson (born 28 May 2000) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. His position is prop.

Background

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Born in Muriwai, Gisborne, New Zealand, Thompson is of Māori descent.[2] He played rugby union as a youth,[3] before being signed by the Canberra Raiders.[4]

Thompson is the identical twin brother of Knights teammate Tyrone Thompson.[5][6]

Playing career

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Early years

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Thompson was a part of the Canberra Raiders' Jersey Flegg Cup team in 2020 and 2021.[7][8] Ahead of the 2022 season, he signed a 2-year contract with the Newcastle Knights.[9]

2022

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In March, Thompson had his Knights contract upgraded from a development contract to a Top 30 contract, allowing him to join the NRL squad.[10] In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Knights against the Sydney Roosters.[11]

In July, Thompson had his contract extended until the end of 2025.[12]

2023

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Thompson played a total of 25 matches for Newcastle in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 5th on the table. Thompson played in both finals games as Newcastle were eliminated in the second week of the finals by the New Zealand Warriors.[13]

2024

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Thompson played 23 games for Newcastle in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 8th and qualified for the finals. He played in their elimination finals loss against North Queensland.[14]

2025

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On 3 January, Thompson signed a four-year deal to join the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from 2026 onwards.[15]

Statistics

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Year Team Games Tries Pts
2022 Newcastle Knights 16
2023 25 1 4
2024 23 1 4
2025
Totals 64 2 8

References

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  1. ^ "Leo Thompson - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ^ Geenty, Mark (30 September 2020). "Mitre 10 Cup rising stars: Tyrone Thompson on his 50m try and NRL hopeful twin brother". Stuff.
  3. ^ "Rugby: NBHS pipped in Super 8 final". NZ Herald.
  4. ^ World, Rugby (27 November 2019). "What is attracting rugby league clubs to union stars?". Rugby World.
  5. ^ "Monday Morning Dummy Half: Canberra Raiders Love Aotearoa". The Niche Cache.
  6. ^ "20-year-old frontrower scores 50m debut try off lineout move". www.rugbypass.com.
  7. ^ "Canterbury v Canberra". 16 March 2020.
  8. ^ Man, 18th (24 November 2020). "2021 Jersey Flegg Cup squads".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Pryde, Scott (30 December 2021). ""He won't look out of place": Knights recruit eyes off NRL debut". Zero Tackle.
  10. ^ "Knights re-sign Edrick Lee". Newcastle Knights. 2 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Roosters v Knights Round 1 NRL team list". Newcastle Knights. 8 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Three more years for rising star Leo Thompson". Newcastle Knights. 28 July 2022.
  13. ^ "NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  14. ^ "Brutal reality Newcastle must accept before solving confidence-killing 'riddle'". www.nine.com.au.
  15. ^ "Bulldogs Sign Leo Thompson for 2026". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
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