Manly Sea Eagles half-back and son of legend to enter open market for 2024, linked with Super League
Cooper Johns warms-up for Manly Sea Eagles in Round 6 against Penrith Panthers alongside captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Photo by AAP Image/Mark Evans.
Manly Sea Eagles half-back Cooper Johns has been linked with an exit from the club and looks set to hit the open market for the 2024 campaign.
League Express reports that Johns, son of rugby league great Matthew Johns and nephew of fellow legend Andrew Johns, has been offered to Super League clubs.
The playmaker has featured just eight times in the NRL this season for the Sea Eagles, having made his professional debut back in 2020 for Melbourne Storm against Parramatta Eels.
Johns, only 24, would be a handy pick up for several Super League sides, including the likes of Catalans Dragons, who will lose Sam Tomkins and Tyrone May at the end of the year, with veteran Mitchell Pearce also reportedly set to hang up the boots.
Cooper Johns receiving interest for 2024
Renowned Australian journalist ‘The Mole’ has also reported that Johns is on the lookout for a new club for 2024, with Manly’s salary cap unable to fit the youngster in beyond the current campaign.
Anthony Seibold has added Wests Tigers half-back Luke Brooks on a four-year deal from 2024, with Jaxson Paulo and Tommy Talau also joining the club from Sydney Roosters and the Tigers respectively. Josh Schuster also recently signed a reported $2.4 million contract extension with the club.
Writing on Wide World of Sports, ‘Moley’ reports that several clubs have already expressed an interest with the possibility of continuing his career in the NRL, cited as a handy squad player.
He has made 19 NRL appearances to date, including a three-year stint with Melbourne, and was signed on an initial train and trial contract with Manly for 2023. Johns played his junior career with the Narraweena Hawks in the Manly District Junior Rugby League before graduating through the Sea Eagles’ Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup teams.
The New South Wales-born player was called up to Italy’s World Cup squad ahead of the delayed 2021 tournament in England, but later pulled out. His brother Jack represented their heritage at the 2017 campaign Down Under.
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