NRL 2021: Shaun Johnson in Bulldogs sights as Sharks punt Aaron Woods and Josh Dugan

Three former international stars are hunting for a new home after the Sharks set them free with at least one on the Bulldogs’ radar.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 24: Shaun Johnson of the Sharks runs the ball during the round seven NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on April 24, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Canterbury officials will meet early next week to discuss offering unwanted Sharks half Shaun Johnson a contract for next season.

The former Golden Boot winner remains the most high-profile halfback without a club for 2022 after Cronulla informed the 30-year-old he wouldn’t be re-signed. The Sharks also told Josh Dugan and Aaron Woods that their services are not required next year, freeing up $2 million of salary cap space.

Incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon broke the news to the three former internationals who told their teammates at training on Thursday afternoon. The Sharks may consider early releases.

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Shaun Johnson could be at Belmore in 2022. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Belmore has emerged as a possible home after Johnson’s manager told Sharks officials that Canterbury were ready to weigh-in with a two-year deal for the Kiwi international.

The Bulldogs denied tabling a formal offer to Johnson when contacted by The Daily Telegraph and they insist their immediate focus is strengthening the middle of the field by bringing in a prop for next season.

However, the club has rotated their halves this season between Brandon Wakeham, Jake Averillo and Kyle Flanagan and a meeting with Canterbury’s recruitment and retention committee on Tuesday will discuss whether to pursue Johnson as an experienced halves option for next year.

Aaron Woods is unwanted at the Sharks. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Wakeham is off-contract this year and Flanagan and Averillo are contracted until the end of 2023 with Penrith’s Matt Burton en route to play five-eighth.

Flanagan has been demoted in recent weeks, but is tipped to return first grade for the ­Bulldogs in round 14.

The Raiders have also been linked to Johnson, but it’s understood head coach Ricky Stuart is preferring to search elsewhere for a replacement for recently released halfback George Williams. Canberra’s pursuit of a new half could hinge on the outcome of talks on Friday between Williams, the Rugby League Players Association and Raiders officials. Williams had his contract terminated last week but is ­chasing a financial settlement.

Johnson’s manager Peter Brown has scoured the NRL for interest in his client, who has failed to hit any significant heights since returning from an Achilles injury in round seven. In four games since, he has had two try assists and two line break assists, solid numbers but hardly the sort of creativity that would have clubs beating a path to his door.

Certainly not when his initial asking price was believed to be a two-year-deal worth around $1.6 million.

The Sharks could let Josh Dugan leave mid-season. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

It is understood the Brisbane Broncos were among the clubs initially interested in Johnson, meeting the Sharks No.7 for face-to-face talks.

The Broncos also conducted significant due diligence on Johnson before they deemed that his asking price was too high.

The club instead focused their energies on Melbourne utility Nicho Hynes, whose decision to sign with Cronulla contributed to the Sharks severing ties with Johnson at the end of the season.

Hynes’ rejection of Brisbane could prompt the Broncos to return to the table.

The Sharks are building an impressive roster for next season with the signings of highly regarded utility Hynes and St George-Illawarra utility forward Cameron McInnes.

MOYLAN FAVOURED TO PARTNER HYNES

Matt Moylan has emerged as the favourite to partner Nicho Hynes in the halves for Cronulla.

In a major development which will impact the transfer market and the career of fellow Sharks half Shaun Johnson, negotiations with Cronulla and Moylan are underway.

It’s anticipated that Moylan, 29, will be offered a massively reduced 12-month contract to stay at the Sharks and partner Hynes, 24, next season.

Hynes, on Tuesday, revealed he had signed a three-year $1.8 million deal with the Sharks after deciding his future lie away from the Melbourne Storm.

Cronulla is set to offer Matt Moylan a reduced 12-month deal to remain at the Cronulla Sharks. Picture: Richard Dobson

This is the first insight into the playmaking combination that incoming Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon is leaning towards in his first season at the club.

Hynes was targeted by Fitzgibbon to play halfback at the Sharks. He played the majority of his junior football in the halves.

Hynes featured at both five-eighth and halfback in the same Manly under-20’s team that featured established NRL guns Tom Trbojevic and Jesse Ramien.

Moylan, who has played 10 of 12 matches this year, has spoken with Sharks officials about wanting to finish his career at Cronulla and how eager he is to be part of the club’s rebuild.

He has spent the past four seasons on a deal worth around $850,000, but the playmaker will need to accept close to half that salary if he wants to remain in the Shire.

The 12-month contract offer is two-fold; it will keep Moylan hungry to perform and secure his future beyond 2022 or alternatively, it will allow the Sharks to reload in the halves for 2023 when prominent playmakers including Dylan Brown, Daly Cherry-Evans, Sam Walker, Adam Doueihi, Luke Brooks, Jake Clifford and Kyle Flanagan are off contract.

The Sharks are also eager to lock down rookie halfback Braydon Trindall, who is off-contract and could develop into an organising playmaker.

Nicho Hynes will form part of a new Sharks’ halves combination in 2022 after signing a three-year deal. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Moylan negotiations will undoubtedly impact Johnson, 30, who is on the comeback trail from an Achilles injury, and one of the biggest NRL stars coming off contract at the end of this season.

Moylan’s contract offer will be similar to what the club was originally planning to offer Johnson. However, those talks broke down after the Sharks learned Johnson and his management were chasing a two-year-deal worth around $1.2 million.

Johnson has also been linked to a switch to rugby union.

With premiership-winning halfback Chad Townsend bound for North Queensland, Moylan and Johnson partnered in the halves last weekend to secure the Sharks their biggest win of the season against the Titans.

Shaun Johnson’s future beyond 2021 is uncertain. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

They continued the good news with the signing of Hynes, who has floated between fullback and five-eighth at the Storm this year, but is stuck behind Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster for a regular starting spot.

Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and New Zealand were all desperately keen on the 24-year-old, who been in outstanding form for the Storm.

Hynes broke the news to Storm coach Craig Bellamy and general manager of football Frank Ponissi on Tuesday night after reaching an agreement with the Sharks.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Shaun Johnson in Bulldogs sights as Sharks punt Aaron Woods and Josh Dugan