Career
He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition from 1973-1984 and coached the club in 1989. He primarily played at five-eighth. Playing
After Manly"s 1978 premiership, Thompson was selected for the 1978 Kangaroo tour and made his test debut for Australia from the bench in the second Ashes series test against Great Britain at Bradford"s Odsal Stadium.
He would play another six tests in his career, with his last being the second test of the 1980 Transport-Tasman series against New Zealand at Carlaw Park in Auckland.
Thompson was selected to represent New South Wales as five-eighth on ten occasions, seven of which were State of Origin matches. He played in the inaugural 1980 game, the complete 1982 series, games I and II of the 1983 series and game I of the 1984 series, the final year of his playing career.
At the time of his retirement in 1984, Thompson held the record for the most Manly club games: 261 with 62 tries and two field goals. Coaching
Thompson moved into coaching and took the Manly reserve grade side to the Grand Final in 1987 (losing to Penrith), before winning the Reserve Grade Grand Final in 1988.
In 1989, following Bob Fulton"s appointment as Australian coach, Thompson was appointed as first grade coach but a turbulent and unsettled year within the club (which saw 1987 premiership players Dale Shearer, Noel Cleal and team captain Paul Vautin leave the club at season"s end) led to a disappointing season for Thompson and he was replaced at the end of the season by former New Zealand and Wigan coach Graham Lowe.
