Dragons set to give Thompson the
boot

THE Dragons are giving Lance Thompson the boot.

After becoming the third player to line up in 100 games for the joint venture club a fortnight ago, Thompson will be presented with his unusual trophy to mark the milestone.

One of his football boots has been dipped in nine-carat gold and Thompson will receive his golden reward prior to Sunday's game with the Wests Tigers at Oki Jubilee Stadium.

Thompson said he didn't have a mantelpiece but he would eventually get the boot framed - along with the rest of the memorabilia he has gathered in his career.

"It has taken me a while to get to 100 but I'm happy to get there and to be playing well for the Dragons this year," Thompson said.

Some people had a few doubts about the marriage between St George and Illawarra when it was first announced six years ago, but Thompson said he has been a believer since day one.

"It didn't really worry me. I always knew the talent that the Steelers had down there in Wollongong and still have. You only have to look at the talent coming out of the place at the moment," he said.

"That 1999 season was great. Making the grand final in our inaugural season was a fair effort. We had some great coaching from David Waite and Andrew Farrar and some great players that have gone on to bigger and better things, like Craig Fitzgibbon."

Thompson's main wish on Sunday is for the Dragons to beat the in-form Wests Tigers and end a five-game losing streak at Kogarah.

"It (the recent Kogarah record) hasn't been great but I'm pretty sure we'll be a chance if we come out hard, which we haven't in the past five in a row," he said.

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust was delighted to see Thompson join Trent Barrett and Nathan Blacklock in the century club.

"It never ceases to amaze me how he continues to apply himself, and I feel sure he would've represented NSW if it hadn't have been for a shoulder injury he sustained representing City," he said.