Canterbury have sealed a deal to sign outstanding England front-rower Luke Thompson from the 2021 NRL season on a three-year deal.

Thompson, who is widely regarded as the best bookend in the world game, has informed Super League champions St Helens that he will not be renewing his contract with the club when it expires in November to test himself in the NRL.

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Round 19

The 24-year-old, who last year became the first prop to be named man-of-the-match in Super League Grand final since 1992, will follow in the footsteps of James Graham who left Saints for Belmore in 2012.

Thompson said that he was excited about getting the opportunity to join a club with such a proud history as the Bulldogs.

“Getting the chance to join the Bulldogs and be a part of a club with so much history and with such passionate fans is very exciting,” Thompson said in a statement released by the Bulldogs.

“Having spoken to many people at the club and listened to their plans for the future, I know that they are building for success and I’m looking forward to being part of that.

(L-R) Luke Thompson, Justin Holbrook and James Roby after winning the 2019 Super League Grand Final. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“When you join a club like the Bulldogs you know about the players and the culture that has gone before you and the fact that second best isn’t good enough and that was something that was important to me.

“I look forward to joining them for the 2021 season and getting to be a part of a talented squad that is hungry for success and this will now enable me to focus on having a great final season with St Helens.”

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said in a statement: “We were informed last week that Luke has decided to join Canterbury Bulldogs next season.

“We accept and totally respect Luke’s decision and wish him nothing but success in his career and in his life.

“We are absolutely sure that he will be absolutely committed to the club and to his teammates for the rest of this season.

“There’s no hiding from the fact that this is a bitter disappointment to all of us as Luke has been connected to the club since the age of 11 and has developed into an absolute top player at 24 years old.

“If ever he decides to return to England and to Super League then there would be a red carpet waiting for him at St Helens.”