Ex-Hull KR forward Luis Johnson was released come the end of the 2023 campaign but it seems that the second-rower has landed himself a new club, footage emerging of him training with Castleford Tigers.
Johnson had found himself on loan with the Tigers for a spell last season but only played three times with the club, compared to the five he played with parent club Hull KR.
Despite that he was part of the released list at the end of the season for the Robins but at just 24 years of age and with 44 games of Super League experience under his belt, he’s an attractive option for any Super League side to take a shot at,
That’s seemingly what has happened with Johnson having been spotted in training with the Tigers as they start their pre-season early in preparation for 2024.
Johnson debuted for Cas at Wheldon Road last year in the team’s massively important 16-4 win over relegation rivals Wakefield Trinity.
The result was huge at the time in just round eight but given the resurgence that Wakefield put together ion the second half of the season then perhaps that win had even more significance than could be realised at the time.
Images of Johnson reuniting with the Tigers has come via Instagram with account ‘The Linked Hub’ releasing footage of an intense Tigers training session, Johnson clearly seen within that footage.
It would seem that this could be confirmation that Johnson will be set to put pen to paper and sign a deal to play at Wheldon Road for the 2024 season, but it could also be a gesture of good will in which the club have allowed Johnson the option to stay in shape whilst he looks for work elsewhere.
It will be a somewhat familiar set of faces to train with given his three game loan spell at the Jungle in 2023 however this time the club will be under new coaching with Craig Lingard having taken over on a full-time basis.
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There will be a familiar face in the coaching set-up for Johnson though, should he sign, with former Hull KR assistant coach Danny Maguire having transitioned from Humberside to West Yorkshire to take up the same role in new surroundings.
It’s unclear which sides will be targeting the former Warrington and Hull KR man but still aged just 24 and with almost 50 Super League games under his belt, he’ll be an attractive option for a number of teams.
