ParraFan09
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DALLAS Johnson is heading home. Not just home to Australia, or the NRL, but home to north Queensland, where it all began.
The Cowboys' recruiting spree is set to add the former Australia and Queensland lock to a stable that will next year include Brent Tate and State of Origin stars Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga and Matt Scott.
Johnson, who left the NRL last year for Super League, wants to return to Australia and is convinced the Townsville club offers the right environment to extend his career and raise a family with his heavily pregnant wife Mel.
The only sticking point could be a release from his contract with Catalans, where he remains contracted for another two seasons.
However, it is believed incoming Catalans coach Trent Robinson would not stand in the way of a homecoming for the ex-Storm forward, who is willing to accept a pay cut to play for the Cowboys until the end of 2013.
The deal is not finalised and Cowboys boss Peter Parr would not even confirm he had spoken to Johnson, who was born in Atherton, west of Cairns, and played junior league for the Herberton Magpies.
But coach Neil Henry is in awe of the 27-year-old tackling machine after working with him as the Maroons' assistant for four campaigns.
Johnson would be a logical replacement for Luke O'Donnell, who will leave the NRL to play for Huddersfield at the end of this year.
Yet he could be all that and more for the struggling Cowboys, who have not always got great value from their high-profile recruits.
Thurston, O'Donnell and Tonga have given outstanding service to the club.
Off-contract forward Carl Webb played his best football for North Queensland but is two years past his best.
Antonio Kaufusi and Manase Manuokafoa were internationals when they arrived in the north and left without firing a shot.
Johnson is the type of player, and leader, around which premiership campaigns are built. He was rarely front and centre at the star-studded Storm but Henry wants to build a reputation for starch and sacrifice, not poach a rock star. Johnson would not comment on the Cowboys' bid and said he would not ditch last-placed Catalans.
Speaking from his home in Perpignan, he did predict he would eventually return to Australia to end his career in the NRL.
"I'm still only 27 so I'd like to think another chance in the NRL wouldn't be out of the question," he said.
Johnson left Melbourne last year hoping to be more of a link man and less of a workhorse in France.
With Catalans in last place, he has reverted to type.
Johnson tops the Super League in tackles, averaging 44 hits a game.
"After being at Melbourne, where we'd had so much success, coming here was a shock to the system," Johnson said.
The Cowboys' recruiting spree is set to add the former Australia and Queensland lock to a stable that will next year include Brent Tate and State of Origin stars Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga and Matt Scott.
Johnson, who left the NRL last year for Super League, wants to return to Australia and is convinced the Townsville club offers the right environment to extend his career and raise a family with his heavily pregnant wife Mel.
The only sticking point could be a release from his contract with Catalans, where he remains contracted for another two seasons.
However, it is believed incoming Catalans coach Trent Robinson would not stand in the way of a homecoming for the ex-Storm forward, who is willing to accept a pay cut to play for the Cowboys until the end of 2013.
The deal is not finalised and Cowboys boss Peter Parr would not even confirm he had spoken to Johnson, who was born in Atherton, west of Cairns, and played junior league for the Herberton Magpies.
But coach Neil Henry is in awe of the 27-year-old tackling machine after working with him as the Maroons' assistant for four campaigns.
Johnson would be a logical replacement for Luke O'Donnell, who will leave the NRL to play for Huddersfield at the end of this year.
Yet he could be all that and more for the struggling Cowboys, who have not always got great value from their high-profile recruits.
Thurston, O'Donnell and Tonga have given outstanding service to the club.
Off-contract forward Carl Webb played his best football for North Queensland but is two years past his best.
Antonio Kaufusi and Manase Manuokafoa were internationals when they arrived in the north and left without firing a shot.
Johnson is the type of player, and leader, around which premiership campaigns are built. He was rarely front and centre at the star-studded Storm but Henry wants to build a reputation for starch and sacrifice, not poach a rock star. Johnson would not comment on the Cowboys' bid and said he would not ditch last-placed Catalans.
Speaking from his home in Perpignan, he did predict he would eventually return to Australia to end his career in the NRL.
"I'm still only 27 so I'd like to think another chance in the NRL wouldn't be out of the question," he said.
Johnson left Melbourne last year hoping to be more of a link man and less of a workhorse in France.
With Catalans in last place, he has reverted to type.
Johnson tops the Super League in tackles, averaging 44 hits a game.
"After being at Melbourne, where we'd had so much success, coming here was a shock to the system," Johnson said.
