Walker to replace Johns?

[G@v]

Northern Eagles stand-off Ben Walker is being touted as a possible replacement for Matthew Johns at Wigan. Johns will be returning to Australia to join the Sharks at the end of the season.
And Walker, the leading pointscorer in the NRL this year, could become a free agent as early as next week if his club does not give guarantees about its future.
The Players Association has given the Eagles until July 27 to guarantee all player payments until the end of the year or they will demand the Eagles stars go on the open market.
Walker would be a perfect replacement for Johns.
He leads the points’ race with 223 (from 14 tries, 83 goals and a field goal) and is ideally placed to top the all-time record for a Premiership season - the 284 scored by Roosters utility back Ivan Cleary three seasons ago.

 

[legend]

I hope Ben Walker does'nt leave the NRL. He has shown he is an S.O.O level player and is a great goalkicker to boot. Anyway I thought the ESL sides were imposing a limit on the number of imports to three per club. ATM they have Furner, Dallas, Renouf and Lam. Gav, can you shed any light on this?

 

[G@v]

Legend, I also thought the ESL were to limit clubs to either three overseas players from next season, it was sometime earlier this year when I read about it,but I can't remember much detail.

Wigan will probably offload Steve Renouf, who is reportedly on his way back to the NRL.

If Ben Walker does come to England, that would end the idea that the ESL is just a place for older players coming over for a holiday.

 

[legend]

I already thought that myth had ended at the end of last season with players like Tonie Carroll, Tony Martin and Dennis Moran all playing in the ESL and all are no older than 25. A newspaper in Australia has called for the merger to fold so there would be a surplus of players but with Souths returning to the elite competition next year most of the quality players would be snapped up pretty quickly. I would be dissapointed if Ben Walker left the NRL for the ESL.

Gav, are you going to any of the tests later in the year?

 

[G@v]

legend, due to mental health problems I am unable to get out and watch any live matches, so the Tests are out of the question.