Championship side Halifax Panthers have confirmed that they have signed Leeds Rhinos hooker Corey Johnson on dual registration with the number nine set to debut on Sunday.
Leeds Rhinos have a dual registration partnership with the Championship side and that has meant that the Panthers have easily been able to draft in Johnson at short notice.
With the move being a result of the dual registration deal between the sides, it means that it is not subject to the two-week minimum terms that loan deals would ordinarily be.
As such, Leeds Rhinos can send Johnson out for some much-needed game time this week while they’re without a game and then potentially have him available for their clash against St Helens in just under a fortnight’s time.
Fax have confirmed that Johnson will go straight into contention to play for them in their upcoming Championship game against York Knights this weekend, with Leeds Rhinos sharing confirmation of the move on social media too.
Leeds Rhinos hooker departs Headingley
Credit: Imago Images
Despite being at Leeds Rhinos for over five years, Corey Johnson has only played 26 times for the club. That has been because he has had a number of spells on loan away from Headingley, but also because of his retirement in 2020.
After signing a four-year deal in 2018, the hooker opted to retire and pursue opportunities outside of the game in 2020 which saw him take a brief hiatus from rugby league.
He wasn’t away for too long though as he returned to Leeds in 2021 and headed out on loan to York Knights to regain playing fitness, before then featuring fice times in the 2022 campaign that saw the Rhinos head to the Grand Final.
Johnson was the team’s second-choice hooker for 2023 as he played behind Jarrod O’Connor following Kruise Leeming’s shock exit and move to the NRL, however, game time has been harder to come by for Johnson in 2024.
That’s been on account of the fact Leeds Rhinos made the mega move to sign both Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft from Salford Red Devils during the off-season with England international Ackers taking the number nine shirt.
Since then, both Ackers and O’Connpr have occupied the role and now that’s seen Johnson head out on dual registration to get some playing time.
As yet, Leeds Rhinos are yet to confirm the deal but Halifax Panthers have taken to social media to confirm it.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the club stated: “Halifax Panthers can announce that hooker Corey Johnson has joined the club on dual registration from Super League partners Leeds Rhinos.
“He will go straight into contention for Sunday’s trip to York Knights in Round 8 of the Betfred Championship.”
Halifax Panthers can announce that hooker Corey Johnson has joined the club on dual registration from @SuperLeague partners @leedsrhinos
He will go straight into contention for Sunday’s trip to @YorkRLFC in Round 8 of the Betfred Championship#PanthersFamily pic.twitter.com/wGc4LAhIbt
— Halifax Panthers 🐾 (@HalifaxPanthers) May 14, 2024
