Ray Thompson (rugby league)

Ray Thompson (born 20 January 1990), also known by the nickname of "Ray-Ray", is a former Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who played as a five-eighth, halfback and hooker. He was an Indigenous All Stars representative and spent his entire professional career with the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Ray Thompson
Personal information
Full nameRaymond Thompson
Born (1990-01-20) 20 January 1990
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–17 North Qld Cowboys 111 14 0 0 56
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–15 Papua New Guinea 4 1 0 0 4
2015 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
As of 3 October 2017
Source: [1]

Background

Born in Cairns, Queensland, Thompson is of Indigenous Australian and Papua New Guinean descent. He played his junior football for Centrals ASA Tigers and attended Kirwan State High School before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys. In 2007 as a 17-year-old. Thompson played a match for the Cowboys now folded feeder club the North Queensland Young Guns as experience for 2008 when the under 20's competition started. Thompson played 21 matches in the NYC in 2008 where he was one of the club's leading scorers playing at halfback. In the opening round of the 2009 NYC season, Thompson injured his shoulder and required a shoulder reconstruction which kept him out of action until Round 19 of the season. He played another 7 games after coming back from surgery.

Playing career

2009

In Round 26, Thompson made his NRL debut for the Cowboys against the Sydney Roosters off the interchange bench in a 32-16 win at SFS.[2] It was his sole appearance for the year.

2010

Thompson played in the opening 3 games of the NYC in 2010 until being called into the Cowboys NRL squad as a replacement for the out of form Grant Rovelli. Thompson had been one of the Cowboys best players in Rounds 4-7 before being cruelly hit by another shoulder injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.

2011

In the pre-season, Thompson was in a battle with Ben Jones and Michael Morgan for the Round 1 spot at five-eighth after the club had failed to make the top 8 in three consecutive seasons.[3] The club had bought over 18 new players in 2011. Thompson ended up winning the five-eighth spot . In Round 21 against the Penrith Panthers, Thompson scored his first NRL try in the 30-18 win at 1300SMILES Stadium.[4] Thompson went on to play in all of the Cowboys 25 matches, scoring on try. He was named the Cowboys most improved player at the end of the season. Thompson played in the Papua New Guinea side to take on Australia PM's 13 played in Lae, Papua New Guinea on 25 September 2011, where he was named PNG'S player of the match after he set up two tries and scored one himself in the 36-22 loss.[5]

2012

The pre-season saw Thompson in yet another battle for a Cowboys jersey, this time the 7. The club had signed former Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui to the club. Thompson had the upper hand in the battle after Lui was ruled out until Round 2 with a knee injury. Thompson started the year at Halfback, with Lui playing Queensland Cup. Lui was later suspended for the whole of the 2012 NRL season for off-field incidents, meaning Thompson would play the season in the number 7 jersey. On 18 May 2012, Thompson extended his contract his contract with the Cowboys for a further 3 years, to the end of the 2015 season.[6] In Round 23 against the New Zealand Warriors, Thompson was ruled out for the rest of the year,[7] requiring his third shoulder reconstruction in his career. He scored 5 tries from 18 matches in 2012.

2013

Throughout the early half of the 2013 NRL season, Thompson played in a rotating hooker position with fellow Cowboys teammate Rory Kostjasyn. In Round 22 against the Penrith Panthers, Thompson scored a hat trick in the Cowboys 36-4 win at Penrith Stadium. Thompson was the first NRL player to record 50 tackles and 3 score tries in a match, scoring the tries within 11 minutes.[8] In Round 24, Thompson's year ended after suffering a broken jaw in a shoulder charge tackle from Newcastle Knights prop Kade Snowden.[9] Thompson finished the 2013 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring 3 tries. Thompson was selected in the Papua New Guinea squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup,[10] playing in all 3 matches in the tournament.

2014

In February 2014, Thompson was selected in the Cowboys winning inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[11] Thompson finished the year with him playing in 22 matches and scoring one try.

2015

Thompson again played in the Cowboys Auckland Nines squad.[12] On 13 February, he was selected at hooker for the Indigenous All Stars in the 2015 All Stars match at Cbus Super Stadium. The Indigenous side won 20-6 over the NRL All Stars.[13][14] Thompson started the season with him playing for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup before earning a recall to the first grade team in Round 8 against the Newcastle Knights.[15] On 2 May, Thompson played hooker for Papua New Guinea against Fiji in the 2015 Melanesian Cup in the Kumul's 22-10 loss at Cbus Super Stadium.[16][17] Mid-season, Thompson extended his contract with the Cowboys to the end of the 2017 season.[18] Thompson was the Cowboys 18th man for their 2015 NRL Grand Final against Queensland rivals the Brisbane Broncos, not taking part in the match.[19] He finished the season with one try from 9 matches. On 15 December, Thompson was named in the interchange bench for the Indigenous All Stars team to play against the World All Stars on 13 February 2016.[20]

2016

On 2 February 2016, Thompson was named in the Cowboys 2016 Auckland Nines squad.[21] On 12 February 2016, the day before the 2016 All Stars match, Thompson injured his ankle at the Indigenous All Stars last training session before the match.[22] Thompson is expected to miss about 12–14 weeks of football.[23] In Round 12 against the St George Illawarra Dragons, Thompson made his return from injury, starting at halfback to replace Johnathan Thurston while he was on Origin duties in the Cowboys 14-10 loss at WIN Stadium.[24][25] In Round 13 against the Newcastle Knights, Thompson played his 100th NRL career match and scored 2 tries in a Man of the Match-winning effort in the Cowboys 46-16 win at 1300SMILES Stadium.[26][27]

2017

On 8 August, Thompson announced he would retire from rugby league following the 2017 NRL season, citing persistent knee injuries.[28] On 1 October, he was the 18th man for the Cowboys in their 2017 NRL Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm. On 6 October, he was named the Cowboys' Club Person of the Year.[29]

Achievements and accolades

Individual

Team

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2016 season [30]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2009 North Queensland 100—00
2010 North Queensland 400—00
2011 North Queensland 2510—04
2012 North Queensland 1850—020
2013 North Queensland 1930—012
2014 North Queensland 2210—04
2015 North Queensland 910—04
2016 North Queensland 730—012
2017 North Queensland 600—00
Career totals 111 14 0 — 0 56

International
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2013 Papua New Guinea 300—00
2015 Papua New Guinea 100—00
Career totals 4 0 0 — 0 0

Personal life

Thompson and his partner Sabrina Galliozzi have one child together, a daughter named Ivy Rae.[31] Following his retirement, Thompson joined the Cowboys' community team as an engagement and programs officer, working with former teammate Matthew Bowen.

gollark: I accidentally somehow copied my cheese trade or something. I don't know how.
gollark: https://dragcave.net/teleport/1410efa5b0825595c9cf8a11219c51fe
gollark: Aaagh why.
gollark: https://dragcave.net/teleport/b9bfbe6f122801a07bd920a327365664
gollark: Oops, wrong URL.

References
  1. Ray Thompson rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/north-queensland-cowboys-defeat-sydney-roosters-32-16-at-sfs/story-e6freon6-1225769940249
  3. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/cowboys-pair-in-battle-to-be-pivot/story-e6frep5x-1226011628222
  4. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/north-queensland-cowboys-beat-penrith-panthers-30-18-in-nrl-round-21-clash/story-e6frep5x-1226105117571
  5. http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/australian-prime-ministers-xiii-defeat-papua-new-guinea-36-22-amidst-gunfire-outside-stadium/story-e6frf3ou-1226146530206
  6. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/north-queensland-cowboys-halfback-ray-thompson-signs-new-three-year-deal/story-fnbgqy4v-1226360009646
  7. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-rd-23-cowboys-v-warriors/story-e6frep5x-1226448204641
  8. http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys-keep-their-season-alive-with-big-win-over-poor-penrith-panthers/story-fn2mcuj6-1226695136466
  9. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/black-knights-say-severity-of-injury-swayed-snowden-ban-20130827-2soe5.html
  10. http://www.nrl.com/rugby-league-world-cup-squads/tabid/10874/newsid/75063/default.aspx
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/panthers-matt-moylan-and-tyrone-peachey-prepare-for-nrl-and-indigenous-all-stars/story-fngr8j33-1227214761602
  14. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-indigenous-all-stars-have-beaten-the-nrl-stars-20-6-at-cbus-stadium/story-fni3fbgz-1227219053165
  15. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/knights-v-cowboys-newcastle-fall-just-short-of-comeback-win-against-wounded-north-queensland/story-fni3gf5j-1227320569767
  16. "Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  17. "Korbin Sims Storms into Maroons Origin Contention with Stand Out Performance in Fiji's Win Over Papua New Guinea". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  18. http://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-sport/thompson-resigns-with-cowboys-until-2017-20150616-3xuof.html
  19. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/north-queensland-cowboys-co-captain-matt-scott-says-hell-speak-from-experience-when-he-chats-to-the-18th-man-for-sundays-grand-final/story-fnjfzr6n-1227552275427
  20. "Teams named for NRL All Stars match". NRL.com. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/cowboys/ray-thompson-suffers-serious-injury-at-indigenous-all-stars-training-session/news-story/2ffb6d24b8653f9e8144eca115275c1d
  23. https://www.nrl.com/ray-thompson-faces-ankle-surgery/tabid/10874/newsid/92846/default.aspx
  24. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/ray-thompson-passes-first-hitout-in-flying-colours/news-story/fe41be47fb3ccc8082445849b9e67540
  25. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2016-st-george-illawarra-dragons-down-depleted-north-queensland-cowboys-in-wollongong/news-story/65939e2c078f871f74a310788d079db3
  26. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/ray-thompson-looks-back-on-career-ahead-of-100game-milestone/news-story/b06d9b04a85b3daf7c5c8e16dbf743eb
  27. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3948670/knights-no-match-for-star-studded-cowboys/
  28. http://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2017/08/08/thompson_to_hang_up_.html
  29. http://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2017/10/06/taumalolo_goes_back_.html
  30. Ray Thompson's player profile at Rugby League Project
  31. http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/thompson-re-signs-cowboys/

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