Canberra’s impressive back-rower Joel Thompson will join St George Illawarra on a three-year deal, taking him through until the end of the 2016 NRL season, it was announced on Thursday.
The news is a coup for the Dragons following Wednesday’s announcement that five-eighth Jamie Soward will leave the club to take up a four-year offer from Penrith.
Thompson confirmed the deal, believed to be worth $1.3 million, through his Twitter account.
Thompson, who has a young family with two daughters, is in his sixth season with the Raiders and has represented both Country Origin and the Indigenous All Stars.
The 24-year-old said it was a family-based decision which led him to sign with the Dragons – but denied the offer was superior to that put on the table by Canberra.
“I would like to announce that I’ll be joining the Dragons on a 3 year deal starting 2014,” Thompson said.
“I have based my decision on what I believe is best for my family, which we decided together (on Wednesday) night.
“I want to make it clear that this wasn’t about money, as most of the offers were the same.”