Foran stay holds key for Johnson

Shaun Johnson has given the Warriors the biggest clue yet on what they need to do to keep him. Re-sign Kieran Foran.

Both halves are off contract at the end of the season and are in hot demand by other NRL teams, even with Cooper Cronk just coming on to the market for the Sydney clubs.

Johnson’s negotiations with the Warriors have been going on for a few months, with the 26-year-old realising that his next contract could be the biggest of his career.

Foran, who only joined the Warriors on a one-year deal, doesn’t want to start talking to clubs yet, preferring to focus on his comeback.

However, the options for Foran appear to be to sign a long-term contract to remain with the Warriors or sign with one of the Sydney clubs.

As the weeks tick by, Johnson’s contract situation becomes a bigger story, but he said yesterday that if the Warriors were able to re-sign Foran, he’d be more inclined to also stay.

‘‘That would definitely help the situation,’’ Johnson said.

‘‘You want to play with the best players and he’s definitely one of them.

‘‘There’s no secret about how good a mate he is to me and you want to play with your mates.

‘‘Not just me, but I’m sure everyone at the club would want to have him on for however long he wants.’’

With Foran and Johnson together, it arguably gives the Warriors the strongest halves combination in the NRL.

But there has always been the fear that it could be a oneyear situation.

‘‘I don’t know how long it’s for, but we’ve both said that for however long it is, we’re going to make the most of it,’’ Johnson said.

‘‘We’re just enjoying our footy at the moment. I love having him at the club and being around this group has been a positive.

‘‘His energy, professionalism, competitiveness, it’s only been good for our group. So whether it’s only for this year, or however many years, we’re going to make the most of it.’’

While so much is still up in the air, Johnson ruled out one scenario - that he’ll join the Storm as Cronk’s replacement, a rumour that’s been doing the rounds.

‘‘When you’re on social media you get made aware of pretty much anything and everything,’’ he said.

‘‘If it’s true or false it doesn’t really matter, I’ve been tagged in numerous posts that apparently I am going there.

‘‘I’ve been completely honest with the club about my options and they know where I stand.’’

The club and his management are working on the contract negotiations in the background, but of more immediate concern to Johnson is Sunday’s home game against the Eels and where they need to improve.

It was an unusual game for the Warriors last weekend with parts of it not so good, like the defence up the middle, but other areas going well, such as the spine and far fewer handling errors made, just five compared to 19 the previous week against the Dragons.

‘‘That’s a big part of today’s game, completing sets, and especially you’ve got to give a rap to our back five,’’ Johnson said.