Shaun Johnson has a place at Warriors next year, coach says

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NRL Warriors v Broncos Where: McLean Park, Napier. When: Saturday, May 27, 7.30pm. Coverage: Live Sky Sport 4, live updates on Stuff from 7.10pm.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster has gone further than ever before by saying he wants Shaun Johnson at the club next season.

The future of the 32-year-old halfback has been one of the main talking points around the Warriors this season, with the playmaker in the final year of his current contract and in sensational form.

There have been further developments to the saga over the last few days, with Johnson turning down a two-year, $1.3 million offer from Wests Tigers, while the Warriors have re-signed Chanel Harris-Tavita from next season.

Up until now, there was a wait-and-see approach from inside the Warriors about whether they wanted to keep Johnson for 2024.

But Webster said on Tuesday that if Johnson wants to continue playing next year, then the Warriors will have him.

“The way and Shaun and I have kept this dialogue is that we’re just going to keep working it out as we go,” Webster said.

Andrew Webster says he’s continuing to have dialogue with Shaun Johnson about his playing future.

Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Andrew Webster says he’s continuing to have dialogue with Shaun Johnson about his playing future.

“If Shaun’s playing well and wants to keep going, then we’ll work that out later. If he’s doing the business, there’s always a spot here for Shaun and we’ll work that out. But right now, we’ve got to have a plan and Chanel is part of that plan.

“That’s great, but the dialogue between Shaun and I is ongoing and the way we work together is open and honest feedback and it will work itself out at the right time. When we know that, we’ll let everyone know.”

Webster was then pressed on whether there was a future for Johnson at the club.

“If he wants it,” was Webster’s answer.

He was then pressed on whether he wanted it.

“I just said I wanted it. I said it, I said there’s a place here for him,” he said.

“I love Shaun we’ve just got to keep communicating, but there’s definitely a place here for him.”

But the return of Harris-Tavita means there would be five halves at the club next year if they kept Johnson and an NRL squad doesn’t need four halves, so it could be that Ronald Volkman is told he’s free to look elsewhere, even though he’s contracted through to the end of the 2025 season.

“We’ll work it out,” Webster said.

“But there’s a saying that you’ve got to get the best roster to give you the best team.

“There’s also the long term future too. It’s not always about that week, that season, or next season.

“There is 2025, 2026, you’ve got to look ahead, recruitment’s not just about that week. It will work itself out.”

Harris-Tavita is part of that long-term thinking. At the age of 24, he has his best years ahead of him and the potential to become the face of the club.

“One thing we’ve learnt this year is you’ve got to have depth, particularly in the halves, it’s such an important position,” Webster said.

Luke Metcalf will finally make his Warriors debut this weekend.

Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Luke Metcalf will finally make his Warriors debut this weekend.

“Chanel offers that, he could play fullback, lock, hooker. He could play just about anywhere, but he is a half. We feel like he’s going to add great depth for us.

“He’s also a left foot kicker on that side of the field, so that adds a different dimension to our team.”

Meanwhile, for Saturday’s game against the Broncos in Napier, Webster has selected Luke Metcalf to make his club debut and he’ll play at five-eighth, alongside Johnson.

Metcalf gave Warriors fans a taste of what he can offer in the trial game against the Tigers in February, but then picked up a serious hamstring injury and has been sidelined ever since.

“It’s been frustrating that every player hasn’t been available,” Webster said.

“Like Luke coming into the Warriors and having that opportunity to show what he can do.

“The timing was so poor, he did it and then missed time. But we also wanted to give him a long career, so we wanted to make sure we took our time in getting him back.

“You can say that about a lot of players. Mitch Barnett played three games, round three was the best game he played, he was hitting form and working out the combination and he hasn’t played against since.

“We want everyone to be available and I’m happy for Luke that he gets this opportunity, he’s worked really hard to get there.”

Metcalf replaces Volkman in a line-up featuring two injury-enforced changes with hooker Wayde Egan (calf) and interchange utility Dylan Walker (toe) both ruled out.

Freddy Lussick is named at hooker with Josh Curran moving back to the interchange bench as a result of first-choice second rower Jackson Ford returning from a head knock.

As for the other injured players, Barnett and Egan could be back next weekend and Jazz Tevaga and Te Maire Martin could return for the game against the Dragons on June 23 and Ed Kosi may be back before then.

AT A GLANCE

Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Luke Metcalf, Shaun Johnson; Addin Fonua-Blake, Freddy Lussick, Bunty Afoa, Jackson Ford, Marata Niukore, Tohu Harris (c). Interchange: Bayley Sironen, Josh Curran, Demitric Sifakula, Tom Ale. Reserves: Ronald Volkman, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Kalani Going, Zyon Mai’u.

Broncos: Tristan Sailor, Jesse Arthars, Kotoni Staggs, Herbie Farnworth, Deine Mariner, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Keenan Palasia, Billy Walters, Corey Jensen, Kurt Capewell, Jordan Riki, Kobe Hetherington. Interchange: Cory Paix, Xavier Willison, Brendan Piakura, Martin Taupau. Reserves: Jock Madden, Tyson Smoothy, Delouise Hoeter, Israel Leota, Benjamin Te Kura.

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