Gisborne-born middle forward Leo Thompson received his first Kiwis call-up for the 2023 Pacific Championships after just two seasons in the NRL with Newcastle Knights.
The former rugby union player – and identical twin of Chiefs Super Rugby star Tyrone – started his rugby league journey with Canberra’s Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup teams in 2020-21 before the Knights lured him to the Hunter.
Thompson played 16 of Newcastle’s first 17 games in 2022 but an impressive rookie campaign was cut short by a hamstring injury. The imposing tyro bounced back to make his Māori All Stars debut in the 2023 pre-season and cemented his place in the Knights’ engine-room contingent.
The 23-year-old missed just one game as the Knights rallied to finish fifth and reach the second week of the finals, starting at prop or lock in 24 of his 25 appearances. Thompson averaged 85 running metres and 30 tackles per game, while he tallied 47 tackle-breaks across a breakout campaign.
Thompson slotted into the international arena with aplomb, lauded as one of the discoveries of the Pacific Championships. As well as leading the Kiwis’ haka with mana and ferocity, the newcomer came off the bench in all three matches to average 39 minutes, 92 metres and 19 tackles. He saved his best for the record 30-0 annihilation of the Kangaroos in the final, charging for 134 metres on 14 carries in just 33 minutes.
Handling the increased attention following his breakout year, Thompson played 23 games to help the Knights to another finals appearance in 2024 and retained a place in the Kiwis’ squad for their title defence. Suspension ruled him out of contention for New Zealand’s opening match against Australia, but he returned at lock against Tonga and made 79 metres and 26 tackles, before scoring a maiden Test try and 110 metres from the bench against Papua New Guinea.
