The NRL could be set for a halfback merry-go-round in the off-season with Adam Reynolds, Mitchell Moses and Shaun Johnson all being linked to rival clubs in recent weeks.
The trio of number sevens could attract significant offers on the open market such is the “current scramble” to land a star half according to Matty Johns.
With clubs hoping to secure their playmaking futures, Matty, Andrew Johns and Andrew Webster discussed where they see Reynolds, Moses and Johnson playing next season on SEN 1170's Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)
Matty: “Mitchell Moses is the interesting one, he’s the premium because he is contracted next year to the Eels but it’s in his favour.
“He’s currently at $850k, and if Chad (Townsend) is at $800k, then I’d imagine the Dogs, Broncos and possibly the Sharks would look to offer Mitchell Moses $1.1 million.”
Joey: “I think he’ll stay, at that stage of his career at age 26-27 in a strong team that’s pushing for a premiership, they’ll finish in the top four.
“Does he want to play for a struggling club? Does he want to leave Sydney?
“Winning the club’s first premiership since 1986 would be your legacy, getting the Eels across the line. I think he’ll stay.”
Adam Reynolds (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Matty: “You’d think it’s a given that he’s going to the Sharks.”
Webby: “Yeah, I think Cronulla are pretty keen on him.”
Joey: “I pray it doesn’t happen, it would not look right, Adam Reynolds in a different colour jersey, a real shame.”
Webby: “I think if Reynolds wants to stay in Sydney, he’ll be a Shark.”
Shaun Johnson (Cronulla Sharks)
Matty: “If I was the Broncos, I would go in hard for Shaun Johnson, he’s the player they need.”
Joey: “I was at Penrith v Brisbane last Thursday and if the Broncos tomorrow got Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai they’d make the top eight.
“They (Brisbane) have got a really good forward pack, there’s some big blokes out there.
“If they had two world class halves, they’d make the top eight. Imagine as a halfback playing behind Payne Haas and Tevita Pangai Jr, you’d be licking your lips every week.”
Webby: “We say it’s a halfback market, surely the player that holds the most cards is Shaun Johnson.”
Matty: “Definitely, he told me a week ago, he hasn’t had an offer (from a rival club). Cronulla have offered him $400k.
“I can’t believe the Broncos haven’t bumped him and told him, ‘You’re our man’, they could get him.”
Listen to the full chat below.