One of the final five free agents left in Super League has now been taken off the market in the shape of former Hull KR and Warrington Wolves back row Luis Johnson.
Johnson has agreed a one year deal with Castleford Tigers ahead of 2024. Johnson is set to be a key backrow for the Tigers in 2024 after spending time on trial training with the Tigers in pre-season.
The former Warrington man actually started with Castleford before being picked up by the Wolves. He also spent time on loan at Castleford last year in a precursor to joining the Tigers headed into the new year,.
As this free agent taken off the market, attention turns to the other free agents the biggest of which is Wakefield Trinity winger Lee Kershaw. He has been linked frequently to a move back to Super League and is unlikely to stay at Wakefield Trinity with no movement in terms of their negotiations and they have seemingly replaced him with the arrivals of Lachlan Walmsley and Jermaine McGillvary.
Kershaw is still set to complete a move to Super League. Still the most likely destination seems to be Leeds Rhinos but would still require a departure. There could be an opportunity for the clubs to be in close quarters in terms of discussions on Boxing Day as they meet in a pre-season friendly.
The Rhinos will be hoping to give their fans a Christmas gift and have already spread the festive cheer in a local Children’s Hospital.
Gareth Cook, Head of Community at Leeds Rhinos Foundation said: “We have been working with Leeds Children’s Hospital for a number of years now. During the year we do a little bit of fundraising and buy gifts for the children. We speak to Lisa at the hospital to find out what they might need and then we come down with the squad to visit about 15 wards and speak with the children and their parents and hopefully make Christmas that little bit easier.
“It always a really positive reaction to the squad. The fact that the players take time out to really engage and spend a lot of time talking to parents and children, having pictures and signing autographs it means a lot to them. We look forward to this visit every year and it was great to see the players interacting with the children – Justin Sangare was even on guitar in one of the wards with Ed Bates, our inclusion officer.
“We are grateful to all the staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital for their hard work in making our visit possible and once again Fourway Executive Travel provided the free transport for the team.”
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