IT WAS one of rugby league's most harrowing break-ups - the fiercely proud Dragons junior shunned from the big Red V and into the bosom of bitter rival Cronulla.
But four painful years after being shown the door at St George Illawarra, Lance Thompson is preparing to return to his spiritual lair next season.
We can reveal that Dragons officials this week finalised negotiations for Thompson to become SGBall coach in 2010, and are contemplating a promotion to Toyota Cup duties the following year.
The appointment comes as a major surprise, given the venom surrounding Thompson's departure mid-contract at the end of 2005. The split generated such angst down Kogarah way that local sporting identity Dick Caine even hired two scantily clad models to promote a campaign to sack Dragons CEO Peter Doust.
But contrary to popular opinion, Doust was not the main man behind Thompson's demise. That role fell to former coach Nathan Brown and assistant Paul McGregor, who wanted the forward out of the club. With Brown and McGregor gone, the path is clear for a prodigal son to return.
The only stumbling block for Thompson will be sacrificing his player management agency, which represents the likes of Chase Stanley, David Milne and Atelea Vea. NRL rules prevent anyone with official links to a club from being a player manager.
