Tom Johnstone is reportedly set to leave the Catalans Dragons at the end of the 2024 season.
Johnstone left Wakefield Trinity to join Catalans at the end of 2022 and had a brilliant first season and is set for a similarly impressive campaign in 2024 after helping Catalans Dragons to the Grand Final/
Despite this, Johnstone is set to leave the club at the end of the 2024 season and this has sparked NRL interest in the winger.
This isn’t the first time that this interest has been present in the England international and things are set to pick up again with a number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation down under.
Super League star tipped for NRL move
Rugby League – Betfred Super League Round 19 – St Helens v Catalans Dragons – The Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, England – Catalans Dragons Tom Johnstone celebrates scoring their first try with Adam Keighran St Helens England
There has been talk of this move ever since May and the Magic Weekend. This was a point in the season when fans and pundits really understood the quality Tom Johnstone brings to CatalansDragons.
After the win eventual Super League Champions, Jamie Jones-Buchanan branded Johnstone as the “premier winger” in the competition on Sky Sports after the game.
“Tom Johnstone is the best winger in the competition for me. He is the premier winger for me.”
It was then said by Australian outlet Zero Tackle that he is attracting interest from NRL clubs.
This comes after former Sky Sports commentator Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson said the same on his podcast.
He said:
“He has been sensational I can assure you, there’s a large country called Australia, they’ve noticed too. The Aussies are coming!”
Now that interest is really increasing in Johnstone from down under, could he make the move to the NRL?
It seems that the winger wants to return to the UK and perhaps the West Yorkshire area leaving Wakefield Trinity, Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants the obvious destinations.
You may expect Leeds to be in pole position especially given doubts over David Fusitu’a future. However, Wakefield would be able to offer him a major contract as their home grown marquee player.
