No smoke in Dragons fire: Poore text clears Thommo

[Teegy]

from SMH.com.au

Thompson received the message from teammate Justin Poore the day a story was leaked to the media detailing how the club had sent a letter to Thompson asking him to show cause why he shouldn't be dismissed for misconduct.

The cornerstone of the Dragons' push to axe Thompson is an abusive text messages he allegedly sent Poore the morning of the preliminary final against Wests Tigers.

But now it has emerged that Poore and Thompson have no problem with each other.

Thompson will front the Dragons board at St George Leagues Club at 3pm on Wednesday. Lawyer Chris Murphy will represent him.

And in another development, The Sun-Herald has learnt that should Thompson stay, there is bound to be tension between him and captain Trent Barrett. It's believed the pair have hardly spoken for three months.

It is understood that Poore was bewildered when he stepped off a plane at Sydney Airport after a two-week holiday in Thailand and realised he was at the heart of the campaign to dismiss Thompson.

Poore called Thompson repeatedly that day to clear the air with his teammate.

It is understood that a key part of Thompson's defence is that he did not send abusive messages to Poore and that Dragons officials are fabricating animosity between them.

His defence will also say the Dragons are trying to use his criticism of the club in the media as a way of dismissing him.

Thompson could not be reached for comment yesterday and his manager Khoder Nasser refused to speak about the text messages.

But Nasser did claim the 27-year-old back-rower was the victim of a "set-up".

"We welcome this board meeting because we want this to be resolved as soon as possible," he said. "This started out about the club having salary cap trouble and now it's evolved into setting someone up because of their inability to stay within the cap.

"It has evolved into them trying to sack him for breach of contract. They are clutching at a lot of straws.

"The noose has been tightening around Lance's neck but the noose might be tightening around someone else's neck before long."

Thompson's future has been under a cloud since a club official told him at the Dragons' presentation night on October 7 that he'd played his last game for the club.

The Dragons are under extreme pressure to stay within the cap next season.

Thompson has said he intends to honour his contract.

Barrett, in England for the Tri-Nations campaign, has said he wants the Thompson situation sorted as soon as possible, but it's believed that much of the tension between the two concerns Barrett's $460,000-a-season contract and the pay cut Thompson took to help the club retain some of its stars.

Barrett is also believed to have been extremely unhappy he had to escort Thompson from a training session last year after Thompson turned up drunk.

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust declined to comment yesterday.

I would like to hear Peter Doust pont of view on this. i think he has been a victim of a set up so he could be sent packing. i wonder if peter doust had anything to do with Poore going to thailand????? i hope this clears thommo and allows him to do what he does best next year. play footy

[Steelers]

Unfortunately, I think that the Dragons board are fabricating the fact that Justin recieved threatening messages. The Dragons need to get this sorted out FAST!