Round 9
Sharks 30 d. Dragons 12

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Sweet success for Thompson
Mon May 8, 2006
Lance Thompson left the Dragons in bitter circumstances last year and his signing by Cronulla was met by supporters threatening to throw away their memberships. However, it all changed yesterday when Sharks supporters were decked in red hair wigs and the Dragons supporters took the side of Thompson over the club management's in making sure that he was still a St George man. Thompson played one of his finest ever matches as the Sharks won 30-12 with the former Dragon scoring the first try and landing the last goal in a match that has him in serious contention for a New South Wales State of Origin position.

All the talk after the match was about Thompson and rightly so considering his performance and his fallout from the Dragons.

Thompson said, "It's good. It's put the demons away I felt weird when I woke this morning. I thought I'd be fairly pumped but I was relaxed. St.George-Illawarra is a great club and I was sad to leave. But I have found a new home.
"I thought my career was winding down but this proves I still have a lot to offer."

Dragons coach Nathan Brown, who had a big fallout with Thompson said, "Lance played well. He's moved on, we've moved on. He played well for us over a lot of years and now he's playing well for Cronulla."

Sharks coach Stuart Raper was delighted with Thompson's performance and said, "He's State of Origin material. Lance is an emotional guy and he would have been passionate no matter who we had played against."

Unfortunately there was no comment from Dragons Chief Executive Peter Doust, who had a major falling out with Thompson. The Dragons supporters who made the short journey across to Toyota Park were in full support of Thompson and produced banners of support for Thompson and also banners wanting Doust out of the club and blaming Doust for Thompson's bitter departure.

Thompson was a player who bled Red and White and was the last surviving player from the St George days before they linked up with Illawarra. Thompson admitted he found it difficult leaving the Dragons the way he did and struggled adapting to a new club. Sharks stand-in captain Adam Dykes had a long chat to Thompson in the pre-season about the fallout with the Dragons and said, "He left under hard circumstances. He was struggling a bit with training and with wearing new colours."

Dykes also had a very fine match and was very unlucky to miss out on City Origin selection. Dykes has been inspirational for the Sharks during the last three weeks and has really taken control in the absence of Brett Kimmorley as halfback and captain. Dykes came off in the final stages with a shin injury and scans today will reveal how long he'll be out for.

Cronulla raced to an early 12-0 lead with tries to Thompson and Luke Covell with Covell converting both tries. The Dragons struck back nearing halftime when debutant forward Charlie Leaeno scored two powerful tries. Leaeno was one of two debutants with the other player being winger Brett Morris who is the son of former International Steve Morris.

The second half was all Cronulla's as they scored three tries through Darren Albert, David Simmons and Nigel Vagana to open up a 28-12 lead. Vagana's try presented Thompson with an opportunity to convert and he duly potted over the two points. Even though Thompson has kept his dignity since the match has concluded, the conversion was no doubt a strong message to both Brown and Doust who badly blundered in the way they treated Thompson.

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