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Key line in that report is “ he has thrived living back home”.Sport Confidential: Wests Tigers target Warriors favourite Shaun Johnson in shock transfer move
In a move which throws massive doubt around the future of halfback Luke Brooks, the Wests Tigers are set to make a play for one of the competition’s biggest crowd pleasers.
Wests Tigers are considering making a shock play for Kiwi veteran Shaun Johnson in a move which would throw up question marks surrounding Luke Brooks’ future at the club.
The Tigers have made it known they want a controlling half having missed out on the likes of Mitchell Moses and Mitchell Pearce in recent weeks.
That has led to the unexpected interest in landing Johnson. Discussions have occurred between the parties with Johnson facing an uncertain future at the Warriors.
After a poor season last year there was little chance that Johnson would have been at the Warriors beyond this year.
But his stellar start to this season now has the Warriors reconsidering their position. He could earn about $700,000 if he returns to Australia.
One of the issues will be the second season of the deal. Johnson would be reluctant to relocate his young family to Australia for just one year.
Whether the Tigers would be keen on a second season or the parties discuss a potential option for 2025 remains to be seen.
It is also unclear if the Tigers shake-up in recruitment this week will change the negotiations.
The Tigers are after a short-term fix in time for some of their young halves to be ready for first grade. Johnson is the best experienced player on the market and at 32 has been rejuvenated this year.
There were calls for him to retire last year after a poor return to the Warriors after three seasons at Cronulla. He has thrived living back at home.
The Warriors are yet to open any meaningful dialogue but have not ruled out extending Johnson’s career. They do however have high hopes for Luke Metcalf and Ronald Volkman while Dylan Walker and Te Maire Martin are also contracted and more than capable of playing in the halves.
If Johnson opts to join the Tigers he would reunite with Benji Marshall – after he made his Kiwi debut playing in the halves with Marshall. Johnson’s career has followed a similar trajectory to that of Tigers coach in waiting Marshall with both transforming from carefree, attacking superstars to controlling halves.
Chad Townsend is another experienced playmaker but he has another 12 months to run on his deal with North Queensland. The Tigers will no doubt be among the clubs keeping an eye on Ben Hunt’s situation at the Dragons.
The St George Illawarra skipper appears certain to spend some time at hooker this weekend, a switch that is likely to test his patience with the club given he is already frustrated over the treatment of coach Anthony Griffin.
While Hunt has played representative football at hooker, he has always considered himself a halfback at club level. Hunt has also made no secret of his support for Griffin, who is expected to be moved on at season’s end.
It could prompt the likes of the Tigers and potentially the Bulldogs to test the resolve of the Dragons to hold onto Hunt, who has two more years on his contract at the Dragons
What all this means for Brooks is unclear. Brooks, who produced his best performance this season against Penrith on Saturday, is still awaiting word from the club about his future.
The injured Adam Doueihi is the only half the Tigers have on their books next season with Brandon Wakeham also a free agent.
Not a good move imo.
