HAD it not been for his playing style - running hard and hitting even harder - Leo Thompson may have been debuting in rugby union, rather than with the Newcastle Knights, last week.
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The young prop, who had a 25-minute stint off the bench against the Roosters and was selected to take on Wests Tigers on Sunday, grew up in Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's north island playing rugby union.
As recently as 2019, Thompson played in an under-20s Maori side with his twin brother Tyrone, who is now with the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
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The duo looked destined to carve out a career in union together, but Leo had often been told he might be more suited to rugby league.
"People mentioned it all the time, even growing up - has he played league or would he consider it," Tyrone Thompson told the Newcastle Herald from New Zealand this week.
"He had thought about it but was waiting for opportunities. One popped up to go to Canberra and he decided there and then he was going to go.
"I think he would be [playing union] if not for league.
"The way he played in union, league suits his style of game. He was always tackling hard and running hard."
Leo, who mostly played centre in union, was scouted by the Raiders in 2019, specifically by the late renowned recruitment guru Peter Mulholland, who was at the Knights in the Tinkler era.
Thompson joined the Raiders before the 2020 season but played less than a dozen reserve-grade games over two years because the pandemic forced the NSW Cup's cancellation each year.
It was hardly the ideal situation for someone trying to switch codes.
"It was hard at first. Picking up the language of [rugby league], that was the hardest thing for me," Thompson said.
"Because of COVID, when I first come over I think I only played two games. Then I played about nine last year. I didn't get too much footy under my belt."
But Thompson trained hard and ultimately the Knights came calling, poaching the now 21-year-old from the nation's capital.
Thompson was lured by the security of a two-year deal, but it was initially only a development contract, so he banked on being able to impress over summer.
"I turned up to preseason pretty fit and I knew most teams keep one spot or two there for players that stand out," he said.
"It was my personal goal to have a good preseason and get upgraded to [the] top 30 [squad]."
Thompson got his deal a week before his debut, an occasion made even more special by seeing his mum for the first time in three years.
"Mum and Dad came over - they were pretty emotional," Thompson said. "I'm going to give my dad my jersey."
His first appearance may have made his two-and-a-half year journey to the NRL worth it, but it's one that Thompson hopes to continue for years to come.
"It means a lot to me and my family. This is all I've ever wanted, is to play professional rugby. I never, ever wanted to do anything else," he said.
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