Warriors eye 18-year-old Eels halfback to replace Shaun Johnson
The Warriors are believed to be targeting Parramatta young gun Dylan Brown as a potential long-term replacement for Shaun Johnson.
Brown is yet to play first grade but the New Zealand-born 18-year-old former Australian Schoolboys halfback is one of the Eels brightest prospects and considered an NRL star in the making.
The teenage No 7 is contracted to the Eels until the end of next season but it's believed the Warriors are keen on securing his services for 2020 and beyond.
The Warriors are urgently seeking a new halfback to partner five-eighth Blake Green next season after the club agreed on Wednesday to grant Johnson an immediate release from the final year of his contract.
Brown is yet to play first grade but in July debuted for Parramatta's feeder club Wentworthville, making five appearances in the Intrust Super Premiership this season under the tutelage of former Magpies head coach and new Warriors assistant coach Nathan Cayless.
Brent Read, chief rugby league writer at The Australian, last night took to social media, saying sources suggest the Warriors are prepared to throw big money to lure Brown back across the Tasman on a mammoth long-term contract.
While the sort of money Read describes sounds unlikely, as the events over the past few days have proven, anything is possible in rugby league.
Brown has quickly made a name for himself as a strong defender and organiser and is believed to have been identified by Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan as a candidate to fill the gap left by Johnson's departure.
Parramatta have recently been trying to offload both of their current halves Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman, shopping the pair around to rival clubs.
Such is the high regard in which Brown's fledgling talent is held, it's understood the Eels are eager to shed either one of their established playmakers to allow them to promote Brown into the NRL side next season.
It's understood Brown left Parramatta's coaching staff stunned earlier this season when he outshone the club's captain Clint Gutherson - the fittest player on the Eels' roster - in conditioning tests.
Whether he is able to fulfill his playmaking potential remains to be seen but the Warriors are understood to be keen on nurturing him through alongside Green who has two years remaining on his current contract.
The Warriors are not placing all their eggs in one basket however and are exploring multiple options, with Cowboys youngster and former Kiwis playmaker Te Maire Martin also believed to be another player of interest.
The 23-year-old former Penrith No 6 was in talks to join the Warriors last season before he made the move to North Queensland on a three-year deal.
Johnson's release means the Warriors now have plenty of cash to spend on new talent and may search for a short-term cut-price option in the halves, if a big name organiser fails to appear on the market.
If they fail to land anyone suitable, Kearney may ask versatile back Peta Hiku to slot into five-eighth and shift Green into the halfback role, or throw an opportunity to one of the club's youngsters, while looking to bolster their forward pack.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12168153
Is Warriors teen Chanel Harris-Tavita the man to replace Shaun Johnson - at least for 2019?
With the
Warriors announcing the departure of NRL star Shaun Johnson today, there are two rookies in the side who could shake things up and benefit from the halfback's decision to leave.
Chanel Harris-Tavita is only 19 but has raw talent, with many rugby league pundits earmarking him as future star in the NRL.
Adam Keighran, 21, signed a two-year deal with the Warriors last month, after playing for the Penrith Panthers in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition this year.
Neither player has played a game in the NRL yet, but have the potential to fill the void left by Johnson.
Harris-Tavita has played 20 games in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW for the Warriors and scored seven tries this year.
Chanel Harris-Tavita in action for the Warriors during an Intrust Super Premiership NSW match. Source: Photosport
His heroics in the Warriors' 24-22 win over the North Sydney Bears in round 24, booked his side a spot in the play-offs.
The Warriors Intrust NSW team were knocked out of the play-offs in week one of the finals, going down 21-20 to Mounties.
The young Kiwi half was named the NYC Player of the Year in 2017.
Harris-Tavita showed fans a snippet of his freakish talent, setting up a brilliant Junior Kiwis try against the Junior Kangaroos last month in Auckland.
With the Kiwis attacking the left edge in the 17th minute, on the final tackle of the set, second rower Isaiah Papali'i offloaded the ball to
Harris-Tavita who dropped the ball onto the back of his heel for a scorpion kick, grubbering the ball forward before regathering it.
He then managed to shake off the tackle of the last Junior Kangaroos defender before offloading the ball to Papali'i, who crossed over to score for the home side.
The Junior Kiwis went onto lose the match 40-24.
Keighran is a handy left-footed kicker who can score points and has the utility factor to play in more than one position.
Warriors player Adam Keighran during pre-season training with the NZ NRL club in Auckland
The 21-year has played for the Bulldogs in the past but in 2018 played for the Penrith Panthers in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW.
He was the top points scorer in the Intrust NSW competition with 202 points and was the top goal scorer with 81 successful goals in the 2018 season.
Keighran played most of this year in the centres and was named in the ISP NSW Team of the Year.
Pita Hiku has played in the halves this year for the Warriors, but with the release of Johnson - you would expect the Warriors to sign up a seasoned veteran halfback.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...s-tavita-man-replace-shaun-johnson-least-2019
