New Shark takes break

[Booyah]

New Shark takes break
November 28, 2005

LANCE Thompson, who signed a one-year deal with Cronulla today, will take time off to re-focus after his bust-up with St George-Illawarra

Thompon will head to Perth to support his friend and former teammate, Anthony Mundine, who is preparing for a fight with New Zealand's Rico Chong Nee on December 11.

Thompson said he has always respected the Sharks, who have a fierce rivalry with the Dragons

Courtesy of Foxsports

 

[carcharias]

maybe the Man will play 5/8 for us.

 

[Wobbygong]

Just signed and he's already pulling the strings at the Sharks, "oh Stuey can I have some time off, I want to offer choc some moral support, I'll let you know when I want to start training again"

Well he's off to a flying start in the self importance stakes, he'll be more influential than Noddy within 6 months, you wait.

 

[Nuffs]

i think it'd be good for him to get away from it all anyway

and it's not as if the week or 2 not training is going to hurt us as a team

 

[samshark]

Ease up Wobby, a short break would be good for him and THE CLUB!!
Like him or loath him the bloke's had a dramatic few weeks and he never wanted to leave the Dragons so a short break would do him the world of good to get his head right and start afresh. You dont want a player starting training still stressed out and pissed off. We have enough of those already!!

 

[johnsmith@microsoft.com]

Former St George Illawarra forward Lance Thompson has agreed to terms and has signed a one-year agreement to play the 2006 season with the Cronulla Sharks.




The 27-year-old Thompson formalised his deal with the Sharks by signing a contract at Sharkies Leagues club today, in the company of Sharks General Manager Steve Rogers, coach Stuart Raper and Sharks Chairman Barry Pierce.

“This will be the start of a new chapter for me at the Sharks and I’m going to train hard, play hard and give it my best,” Thompson said. “I’ve always had a lot of respect for the Sharks club and its players, the semi final we played against them last year was one of our toughest games all year, so I’m looking forward to playing alongside some of those guys.”

With the departure and retirement of a couple of key forwards, Thompson is being viewed by the Sharks as the perfect addition to a pack which will next year also include Queensland State of Origin prop Ben Ross.

Rogers, in announcing the new signing, didn’t rule out the prospect of Thompson moving from his preferred position of back row into the front row as a replacement for the likes of Jason Stevens and Danny Nutley.

“Stuart (Raper) and Lance spoke about the prospect of Lance playing in the front row and neither of them had any doubt he could handle the move,” Rogers said. “The way he plays I’m sure he could play either position.”

Sharks coach Raper was also enthusiastic about the prospect of being able to call on Thompson’s skill and experience next season.

“I thought he was one of St George’s best forwards last year so there’s no doubt Lance has got plenty of good football left in him,” Rogers said. “I’m sure he’ll fit in very well with us here at the Sharks.”

While only signing a one-year deal, Sharks General Manager Steve Rogers explained that the club would review Thompson’s future mid season, with the view to possibly extending his contract beyond 2006.

Thompson will train privately during the next two weeks, following a program put together by Sharks strength and conditioning coach Trent Elkin, before formally starting training with the Sharks on December 12.

“I’m going to try to clear my head after all that has gone on recently, I’ll go to Perth to support my good mate Choc (Anthony Mundine) before his next fight and I’ll do some hard training of my own before I start with the Sharks,” Thompson said.

The entire Sharks squad will be taking a short break from pre-season preparations tomorrow (Tuesday, November 29) before resuming on Monday, December 5.
http://www.sharks.com.au/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=162&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=ae70219a79

 

[beekershark]

The problem is, if other players feel they need a longer break , then a newy comes along and gets some " mental health " time, well, it causes waves. we all know Thompson will be partying big time on his "break".

 

[spirit of league]

i don't think mit should cause too many problems. players should really be focused on their own training and fitness at thios stage of the year. hopefully it might do him some good to get together with choc and fire up his new anti-scum feelings, throw a few gas cans on a peter doust effigy, punch the crap out of some poor kid wearing the happy dragon suit and get it all out of his system.

i wonder what's the real reason he's only signed a 1 year deal. either he's not sure, the club's not sure, he wants to consider gold coast, the club has salary cap concerns, or any combination of the above.

anyone have any relevant info / wild speculation / malicious gossip they'd care to contribute ?

 

[beekershark]

Mainly salary cap concerns mate, which is a worry withing itself looking at our player list.

 

[Nuffs]

i would have thought other players would be happy since they'll be fitter, stronger etc. than lance, and therefore would have first go at spots

oh that's right, this club has a care factor of zero when it comes to in form players