Wildcard Johnson a chance for 2025 deal
Star’s Wahs future in doubt after Metcalf, Lussick sign
The door is still open for Shaun Johnson to remain at the Warriors in 2025, despite the retention activity of the past week.
The re-signing of half Luke Metcalf and hooker Freddy Lussick on extended deals was significant, in more ways than one. It was an early show of faith in the youngsters, with 21 and 36 NRL games behind them respectively.
Coach Andrew Webster and his staff have obviously seen enough in preseason, to warrant further investment. It also locks in the Warriors spine for the next two seasons, with multiple fullbacks (Charnze Nicoll-klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki), halves (Metcalf, Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-tavita) and hookers (Wayde Egan and Lussick) secured until at least the end of 2025.
Johnson remains the wildcard. The club need to plan for life without the local product — as he cannot go on forever — but also must factor in the possibility of his presence next year.
While the most likely scenario is that Johnson will retire at the end of this season, that was what we expected in 2023. Johnson is enjoying his football as much as ever, revitalised under the Andrew Webster regime and coming off the best season of his career. Living up to those standards won’t be easy but the 33-year-old has made a solid start to 2024 and remains — by some distance — the most effective playmaker and organiser at the club.
His future beyond this season will come down to form, along with his physical and mental appetite to put himself through everything that another campaign would entail. The club would have to do some shuffling to accommodate him but would likely find a way.
Metcalf remains the preferred option beside Johnson but don’t discount Martin forcing his way back. He is a great competitor, a strong defender and an underrated playmaker. His broken leg last season meant he still wasn’t 100 per cent when he returned just before the finals and it was likely still a factor during this pre-season.
However, the club expect big things from Metcalf, off the back of an outstanding pre-season block. The 25-yearold has put on size and muscle, developed his kicking game and is the best support player at the club.
He’s also matured, with a sense that he is ready to seize his opportunity, rather than wait for it to be delivered on a plate. That’s why the Warriors decided to move now, also cognisant of the shortage of quality halves on the market, which could see Metcalf poached away.
While Lussick (23) is not in the class of Egan, he’s a capable deputy. He’s fit, tough and a good professional, though he could face competition from Harristavita for the relieving dummy half role, at least in the short term.