{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer (born 1990)}} {{for|the American football linebacker|Corey Thompson (American football)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Corey Thompson |fullname = |image = Corey Thompson.jpg |imagesize = 285 |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|5|15}} |birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|WG|FB}} |club1 = Canterbury Bulldogs |year1start = 2014 |year1end = 15 |appearances1 = 35 |tries1 = 15 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 60 |club2 = Widnes Vikings |year2start = 2016 |year2end = 17 |appearances2 = 58 |tries2 = 41 |goals2 = 9 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 182 |club3 = Wests Tigers |year3start = 2018 |year3end = 20 |appearances3 = 44 |tries3 = 19 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 76 |club4 = Gold Coast Titans |year4start = 2020 |year4end = 22 |appearances4 = 43 |tries4 = 13 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 52 |teamA = Indigenous All Stars |yearAstart = 2021 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |retired = yes |source = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Corey-Thompson/ |title=loverugbyleague |access-date=25 November 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030425/https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Corey-Thompson/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/corey-thompson/summary.html|title= Corey Thompson - Career Stats & Summary|publisher= Rugby League Project|date=|access-date= 2016-03-27}}</ref> |updated = 27 May 2022 }}
'''Corey Thompson''' (born 15 May 1990) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er and {{rlp|fb}} for the Brisbane Tigers in the Queensland Cup.
He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League, and the Widnes Vikings in the Super League.
==Background== Thompson was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and is an Indigenous Australian.
He played his junior football for Easts Mount Gravatt, before joining the Souths Logan Magpies.
==Playing career== ===Early career=== In 2010 and 2011, Thompson played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/rugby-league/story-e6frepo6-1225849750525|title=Story|publisher=Couriermail.com.au|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rugby-league-tyron-haynes-cq-comets/806469/|title=Haynes priming for big performance | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin|publisher=Themorningbulletin.com.au|date=2011-03-26|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> In 2012, he joined the Eastern Suburbs Tigers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/walker-kauffman-big-winners-at-tigers-awards-night/story-fn8odwh7-1226488951409|title=Walker / Kauffman Big Winners at Tigers Awards|publisher=Couriermail.com.au|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> giving him the chance to do a pre-season with National Rugby League team Melbourne Storm.<ref name="foxsports1">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/former-baggage-handler-corey-thompson-is-set-to-make-his-nrl-debut-for-the-bulldogs/story-e6frf3rc-1226846326775|title=Former Baggage Handler Corey Thompson is Set to Make His NRL Debut|publisher=Foxsports.com.au|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> The Storm attempted to sign Thompson but couldn't fit him under their salary cap.<ref name="foxsports1"/> In 2013, he played games for ICONZ Rugby in an Australian Rugby sevens tournament.<ref>{{cite web|author=Adrian Proszenko|url=https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-bulldog-corey-thompson-desperate-to-fit-into-ben-barbas-old-jersey-20140208-328m2.html|title=NRL: Bulldog Corey Thompson desperate to fit into Ben Barba's old jersey|publisher=Smh.com.au|date=8 February 2014|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> In April 2013, while playing for the Eastern Suburbs Tigers, he signed a 2-year contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs starting effective immediately.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/easts-tigers-fullback-corey-thompson-has-earned-a-two-year-deal-with-the-bulldogs-in-the-nrl-effective-immediately/story-fn8odwh7-1226619151970|title=Tigers Fullback Corey Thompson Has Earned a Two Year Deal with the Bulldogs in the NRL Effective Immediately|publisher=Couriermail.com.au|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref>
===2014=== In Round 1, Thompson made his NRL debut for Canterbury-Bankstown against the Brisbane Broncos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2014/round-1/canterbury-vs-brisbane/summary.html|title=NRL 2014 - Round 1|publisher=Rugby League Project|date=|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2014/03/07/nrl_late_mail.html|title=NRL Late Mail|publisher=Bulldogs|date=7 March 2014|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> In September, Thompson re-signed with Canterbury on a 1-year contract. Thompson made a total of 25 appearances for Canterbury in 2014 including the 2014 NRL Grand Final which the club lost 30-6 against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-win-2014-nrl-grand-final-defeating-canterbury-bulldogs-306/news-story/8016f779194e71814b5118263ffbf713/|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs win 2014 NRL grand final, defeating Canterbury Bulldogs 30-6|website=Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/bulldogs-winger-thompson-signs-extension-14909/|title=Bulldogs winger Thompson signs extension | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2014-09-12|access-date=2015-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821035230/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/bulldogs-winger-thompson-signs-extension-14909/|archive-date=21 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2014/09/23/what_a_year_for_thompson.html|title=What a Year for Thompson|publisher=Bulldogs|date=23 September 2014|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref>
===2015=== On 16 August, Thompson signed a 2-year contract with Super League team Widnes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/news/article/44666/corey-thompson-signs-for-widnes|title=Corey Thompson signs for Widnes Vikings from NRL|publisher=Widnesvikings.co.uk|date=|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/33953034|title=BBC Sport - Corey Thompson: Widnes Vikings to sign Canterbury Bulldogs back|work=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2015|access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref>
===2016=== In the 2016 season. Corey scored 27 tries for the Vikings, meaning he was the second highest try scorer in the league behind Denny Solomona of the Castleford Tigers. Corey helped his team to a 7th-place finish in Super League.{{cn|date=October 2022}}
===2018=== Thompson returned to the NRL with the Wests Tigers. With Tuimoala Lolohea pencilled in as fullback, Thompson was said to being adding "further depth" to the team.<ref>{{cite web| work= nrl.com| title=Tigers declare interest in Moylan| author=Alicia Newton| date=6 September 2017| url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/09/06/wests-tigers-declare-interest-in-matt-moylan/}}</ref> However, Thompson was named at fullback for the last trial before the season began, with coach Ivan Cleary saying post-match, "I couldn't have asked for more from him really. He was in everything tonight. Corey's been a standout right throughout the pre-season."<ref>{{cite web| work= nrl.com| title=Tiger Thompson trumps Lolohea for fullback spot| author=Dan Walsh| date=24 February 2018| url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/02/24/wests-tigers-corey-thompson-trumps-tui-lolohea-for-fullback-spot/}}</ref>
With Lolohea selected at fullback for the round 1, Thompson was chosen on the right wing ahead of regular winger David Nofoaluma. Near the end of the game, he scored a match-winning "freakish try finished with polish" as Wests Tigers defeated the Sydney Roosters 10-8.<ref>{{cite web| work= Fox Sports | title=Watch: Minimum wage winger Corey Thompson becomes Wests Tigers' hero in Roosters win| author=Nathan Ryan | date=10 March 2018| url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/watch-minimum-wage-winger-corey-thompson-becomes-wests-tigers-hero-in-roosters-win/news-story/42dc668dbbb53eb289a4e291af14ae12}}</ref> After Lolohea suffered a knee injury, Thompson was named at fullback for round 2.<ref>{{cite news| work= The Sydney Morning Herald| title=Nofoaluma back after injury strikes Wests Tigers' round one hero| author=Adrian Proszenko| url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nofoaluma-back-after-injury-strikes-wests-tigers-round-one-hero-20180316-p4z4ms.html}}</ref> Described as the, "early contender for bargain buy of the season". Thompson signed an upgraded contract for 2019.<ref>{{cite news| work= news.com.au | title=NRL's bargain buy of the year Corey Thompson rewarded with upgraded Wests Tigers contract | url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers/nrls-bargain-buy-of-the-year-corey-thompson-rewarded-with-upgraded-wests-tigers-contract/news-story/8b2668aecbe7e1cfb34d1ddc903f8ffe}}</ref> He continued to switch between fullback and winger, making 20 straight appearances before a season-ending ankle injury. Despite the premature end, he was the club's leading try-scorer with 9.<ref>{{cite web| work= Sporting News | title=Wests Tigers winger Corey Thompson reportedly out for season with ankle injury|author=Daniel Ramus | date=4 August 2018| url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/corey-thompson-ankle-injury-season-surgery-wests-tigers/a6cmukh0uzov1qzyyv92pmo04}}</ref>
===2019=== In Round 2 of the 2019 NRL season, Thompson scored 2 tries as Wests defeated the New Zealand Warriors 34-6 at Campbelltown Stadium. In Round 19 against Newcastle, Thompson scored 2 tries as Wests won the match 28-26 at the Newcastle International Sports Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/tigers-pip-knights-in-10-try-nrl-thriller-c-368093/|title=Tigers pip Knights in 10-try NRL thriller|website=7 News|date=26 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/wests-tigers-punish-error-ridden-warriors-secure-commanding-win-in-sydney/|title=Wests Tigers punish error-ridden Warriors, secure commanding win in Sydney|website=TVNZ}}</ref>
Thompson finished the season making 22 appearances and scoring 9 tries as the club ended the year in 9th spot and missed out on the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/09/08/ruled-out-farah-gets-last-minute-call-up-after-warm-up-injury/|title=Ruled out, Farah gets last-minute call-up after warm-up injury|website=NRL|date=8 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/robbie-farah-paul-gallen-private-chat-before-sharks-tigers/eebca170-6880-4a0b-8d1c-ddcc9088872a/|title=Robbie Farah's cryptic chat with Paul Gallen ahead of Leichhardt Oval showdown|website=WWOS|date=9 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nrl/story/_/id/27564311/cronulla-sharks-ruin-fairytale-wests-tigers-robbie-farah/|title=Cronulla Sharks ruin fairytale for Wests Tigers' Robbie Farah|website=ESPN|date=8 September 2019 }}</ref>
===2020=== On 15 June, Thompson signed a three-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans after being granted a immediate release from the Wests Tigers. Thompson would go on to play 12 games for the Gold Coast in the 2020 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/06/15/titans-tie-up-tiger-thompson/|title=Titans Tie Up Tiger Thompson|website=titans.com.au|date=15 June 2020 }}</ref>
===2021=== Thompson played 18 games for the Gold Coast in the 2021 NRL season including the clubs elimination final loss to the Sydney Roosters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/11/hes-taken-it-hard-shattered-titans-rally-around-herbert-after-blowing-win/|title='He's taken it hard': Shattered Titans rally around Herbert after blowing win|website=www.nrl.com|date=11 September 2021}}</ref>
===2022=== Thompson made 13 appearances for the Gold Coast in the 2022 NRL season scoring one try. The Gold Coast would finish the season 13th on the table and miss the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-gold-coast-titans-season-review-justin-holbrook-tino-faasuamaleaui-david-fifita-toby-sexton-jayden-campbell-kieran-foran-jamal-fogarty/news-story/271373bd289c9c920124d2847fde6d5e/|title=Titans' million-dollar man goes missing as Holbrook rues costly mistake: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=8 September 2022 }}</ref> On 10 November, Thompson signed a contract to join Queensland Cup side the Brisbane Tigers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/former-widnes-vikings-and-super-league-winger-corey-thompson-finds-new-club/|title=Former Widnes Vikings and Super League winger Corey Thompson finds new club|website=www.totalrl.com|date=10 November 2022 }}</ref> and ultimately played fullback in the Tigers 22-18 victory over Burleigh in the 2023 grand final.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.qrl.com.au/draw/qrl-premiership/2023/grand-final/game-1/ | title=Bears v. Tigers | date=2023-09-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129230302/https://www.qrl.com.au/draw/qrl-premiership/2023/grand-final/game-1/ | archive-date=2023-11-29}}</ref>
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Goals !Pts |- |2014 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |25 |10 | |40 |- |2015 |10 |5 | |20 |- |2016 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Widnes|14}} Widnes Vikings |33 |28 |6 |124 |- |2017 |24 |13 |3 |58 |- |2018 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers |20 |9 | |36 |- |2019 |22 |9 | |36 |- | rowspan="2" |2020 |{{leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers |2 |1 | |4 |- |{{leagueicon|Titans|16}} Gold Coast Titans |12 |4 | |16 |- |2021 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Titans|16}} Gold Coast Titans |18 |8 | |32 |- |2022 |13 |1 | |4 |- | |Totals |180 |88 |9 |370 |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/corey-thompson/ Wests Tigers profile] *[https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers/corey-thompson/ NRL profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140307130358/http://www.bulldogs.com.au/team/profiles/corey-thompson.html Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs profile]
{{Brisbane Tigers squad - 2023 Queensland Cup premiers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Corey}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:Brisbane Tigers players Category:Gold Coast Titans players Category:Indigenous Australian rugby league players Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people Category:Rugby league fullbacks Category:Rugby league players from Brisbane Category:Rugby league wingers Category:Souths Logan Magpies players Category:Wests Tigers players Category:Widnes Vikings players Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen