Thompson: ‘Best is yet to come’
Warriors back-rower Bodene Thompson has been one of the club’s best performers in the opening two games but he feels like the best is yet to come.
The 27-year-old from Tauranga, who made 46 tackles, nine hit-ups and carried for 84m in the 25-10 loss to the Broncos, believes he is working his way back to his best after missing the Nines and not playing during the pre-season.
Thompson, who came off the bench in the round-one loss to the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown and added some much-needed defensive intensity and scored a try in the second half, has set high standards for himself on the Warriors’ right edge.
‘‘I am always looking at the things I can fix and do better,’’ said Thompson.
‘‘It was a good starting platform. For me I expect to do that every week kind of thing. That is just a starter for me and hopefully things can go up.’’
Thompson said the stats from Suncorp Stadium – where the Warriors were able to deliver a high completion rate of 86 per cent – would have been good enough to beat most teams in the NRL, but the 2015 finalists are at a different level.
‘‘It was definitely a tough game and it was right up there intensity wise. Most teams that would have been good enough to beat them. The Broncos are one of those teams that stick in there and they know how to win those battles. It is something that we have got to learn from and close games out in the last 20 minutes, but we will take confidence from that performance.’’
The Warriors know they have to back those stats up tomorrow in their first home game for 2016 at Mt Smart Stadium against the Melbourne Storm, a team that they have enjoyed good success against.
Thompson said the Storm have been there and done it before and they are a world-class outfit.
He saw captain Cameron Smith directing them around the park as their key influence and did not believe they were a weaker side without superstar fullback Billy Slater, who is out for the season after suffering another serious shoulder injury.
‘‘Billy is a world-class player but they have that [ Cameron] Munster there and he is very sharp. It is more Smithy around the middle of the field. He has got his hands on the ball pretty much every play so Munster comes in and will give them the same impact, they will be the same threat.’’