Chiefs hooker hasn’t signed with Newcastle Knights… yet

Saturday, 10 February 2024

Chiefs hooker Tyrone Thompson denies he has signed with the Newcastle Knights for 2025, but admits he is certainly weighing up an offer to join the NRL club.

Australian media late last year reported the 23-year-old had agreed a one-year development deal to join the Knights − where his identical twin brother, Leo, plays − once his New Zealand Rugby contract expires in 2024.

However, the one-cap Māori All Black, who has also notched three appearances for the All Blacks XV, says nothing is signed and sealed as yet, and there’s still every chance he could be staying in the 15-man game next year.

“Well, we’re still trying to go through it all,” he said when quizzed by Stuff of his potential cross-code move to the Hunter Valley.

“I’m considering it, I’ve definitely got interest in it. But I’ve still got aspirations here as well. So I’m seeing how it plays out. There’s nothing set yet.”

Thompson has no league background − save for the odd Sunday game in Hawke’s Bay, “but that’s not even rugby league, it’s run-it-straight, no plays or anything” − however the 1.86m, 111kg front-rower boasts a powerful ball-in-hand game which could suit it, and his brother is proving an inspiration, with a good word from him seemingly being what sparked the Knights’ interest.

Leo, formerly a midfield back in rugby, was picked up by the Canberra Raiders in 2020, before the Knights came calling for 2022. The prop has gone on to play 41 games for Newcastle, then also went on to represent the Kiwis last year, even leading the haka on test debut.

“Proud as” of his brother, and “tight as” with him, Tyrone admits he definitely wants to reunite after their half a dozen or so years apart.

And with the NRL said to be considering allowing clubs salary-cap relief in order to sign players from rival codes, no wonder Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan − who in 2022 also had Shaun Stevenson wooed by Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett − acknowledged the NRL was indeed “an absolute threat” to secure the services of someone like Thompson.

“It’s an exciting game to watch, and in his eyes there’s an itch there that he’s just dying to scratch,” McMillan told Stuff.

“The good thing is that he’s been very open and transparent about his desire to give league a crack, and there’s a lot of appeal, particularly to go and play with his twin brother, and I get that.

“But we’re working really hard at our end to give him confidence that he’s highly-valued in our environment. And, looking around the country, he’s got to be rising up the ranks. So he’s got a lot to think about, and we’re not putting him under any pressure at this stage to make a definitive decision.”

Thompson, who made his NPC debut for Wellington in 2020 and now represents Hawke’s Bay, has played 15 games for the Chiefs over the past two seasons, and this year will again chiefly have him battling Bradley Slater for the bench spot behind All Black Samisoni Taukei’aho.

But would a breakthrough Super campaign seal his fate in rugby union?

“I’m not too sure, I haven’t really given that a whole lot of thought, what will determine it,” he said of the call on his future, though noting the black jersey still, of course, held plenty of appeal.

“I think that’s everyone’s goal if they’re in New Zealand playing, otherwise you’d go cash in overseas.

“It’s always good to keep your options open as well, see what’s out there.

“But I’ve kind of parked it up for the moment, and am focusing on the Chiefs, and we’ll see what happens after the season.”