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James Gourley/AAP via Photosport
Shaun Johnson’s standout form so far this season has attracted the attention of the West Tigers.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has reportedly been sounded out on the possibility of finishing his NRL career playing for the West Tigers in Sydney.
As first reported by Stuff last month, the Warriors aren’t in a rush to re-sign the in-form Johnson for the 2024 season, at this stage. However, the club has far from ruled it out, but a contract from the Warriors would only be for one season.
Talks between the Tigers and Johnson’s management have already begun, The Daily Telegraph reported on Thursday.
Stuff understands Johnson has no intention to retire at the end of the season and wants to play on at the Warriors but is sympathetic to the club’s plight.
The complicating factors are the NRL’s salary cap and that the Warriors already have money tied up in their succession plans for life after Johnson with Luke Metcalf and Ronald Volkman plus Johnson’s regular halves partner Te Maire Martin (currently sidelined with a broken leg).
Tigers halfback Luke Brooks is also off-contract at the end of this season but the Australian newspaper reported the club’s interest in Johnson combined with recently being knocked back in approaches to Mitchell Moses and Mitchell Pearce, could spell the end for Brooks’ chequered time at the club. Brooks is reported to be soaking up more than A$1 million (NZ$1.07m) of the club’s salary cap this season.
Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
Former Kiwis teammates Benji Marshall and Shaun Johnson would be reunited as player and coach if the Tigers pull off the signing of the Warriors halfback.
Because of Johnson’s stellar form so far in 2023, that some astute judges are calling the best of his career, it’s reported the Tigers would be willing to shell out around A$700,000 (NZ$750,000) for next season to secure the 32-year-old former Kiwis halfback.
He might have lost the blistering speed that produced the highlight reels early in his career but Johnson’s ability to control a game, defense and kicking game has been top-shelf so far this season. With a young team, a halfback with Johnson’s experience and 2023 form could help transform the struggling Tigers – who only have a single win from eight games of far this season.
If a move to the Tigers was to happen, Johnson would reunite with former Kiwis teammate Benji Marshall. Tim Sheens is the current head coach at the Tigers, with his assistant and right-hand man Marshall set to take the helm from the 2025 season.
However, a sticking point of any deal with Johnson could be the length of the contract, according to The Daily Telegraph, who reported the Tigers could be hesitant to ink a deal longer than just the 2024 season.
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Luke Brooks’ future at the Wests Tigers has long been a point of contention. Shaun Johnson could be a cheaper and more productive option for them in 2024.
Settled back in Auckland, Johnson and his wife, Silver Ferns netballer Kayla Johnson are expecting their second child in July and could be reluctant to move for just one season. Johnson publicly talked about his understandable struggles when being separated from his young family when the Warriors were stuck in Australia because of Covid-19.
A family move to Australia could also be complicated given Kayla Johnson is reportedly considering a return to netball next year.
For the Tigers, signing players at the end of their careers on multi-year contracts has been an issue in the recent past with multiple deals going sour, including with former Kiwis Russell Packer and Ben Matulino.
Johnson, who worked hard on his fitness and conditioning over the pre-season, has been injury free in 2023 but does have a long history of injuries and will turn 33 in September.
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