He’s considered one of the NRL’s most underrated players, but Corey Thompson certainly hasn’t escaped the eye of Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire.
Thompson will make a welcome return from a minor ankle injury when the Tigers look to stay in the finals hunt in Friday’s clash with Newcastle.
The 29-year-old has been somewhat of a revelation since moving to fullback over the past month, averaging over 170 metres a game.
“Yeah he’s a competitor, little Corey,” Maguire said.
“He’s really growing there as a fullback. We threw him there a month ago and he’s really taken it on board, and he’s a real good man to have around your club.”
Maguire initially deployed Thompson in the No.1 six weeks ago and it raised some eyebrows given skipper Moses Mbye started the year as custodian.
Mbye has since played in the centres, where he has shown solid form.
And Maguire was so impressed with Thompson the former Canterbury winger was handed a two-year extension just last month.
“Those sorts of players, people don’t realise how much goes on away from the actual field itself. (Thompson is) a real clubman,” he said.
“He just loves the club, loves performing, loves to see the supporters with the smiles on the face. He’s that type of character.
“I think he’s very underrated on the outside world, but inside, it’s the reasons why I pushed really hard to make sure he stayed.”
Maguire will be looking for a response from his team against the Knights after giving them a public lashing for their last-start defeat to Canberra.
They enter the Newcastle game on a three-game losing streak and in real danger of missing the finals for an eighth straight season.
“We’re in that situation so we understand what we need to do,” Maguire said.
“I’ve obviously said my piece about where we are as a club. We need to grow. It’s pretty straightforward but it’s now up to the boys to go out and get that job done.”