From Mathew Shaw

Tom Johnstone is a calculated transfer risk clubs are desperate to make but daren't
The Wakefield Trinity winger is off-contract at the end of the season.

For many fans across Super League, the prospect of having Tom Johnstone wearing their club's colours is a mouth-watering one. Next year, that could very much become a reality. The Wakefield winger is off-contract at the end of the season and in less than three weeks will be free to speak to rival clubs about a move.

There is little doubting Johnstone's talent. Among the best finishers in world rugby, the speedster provides genuine x-factor and a serious threat whenever and wherever he touches the ball on the field. In recent years he has improved the defensive side of his game and his yardage has improved too.

But there is one almighty caveat that will be considered by potential suitors of the Wakefield ace, and that's his rotten injury record. Johnstone is only 26 but has already undergone two ACL reconstructions, concussion issues and various other injuries that have seriously hampered his career.

Johnstone made his debut in 2015 and since the beginning of his career has averaged around 15 games per season. He has only made more than 20 appearances in any one year on two occasions due to his terribly unfortunate run of bad luck.

The dilemma facing clubs considering a move for Johnstone was perfectly illustrated in his most recent return from injury in Wakefield's win over Salford. Johnstone produced an individual display unlike many will have seen at Belle Vue that day. He scored two tries, created another and instigated another with a superb counterattack from within his own in-goal. But he was withdrawn at half-time after sustaining a back injury that resulted in him missing their Challenge Cup defeat to Wigan Warriors.

Unfortunately, signing Johnstone comes with an element of risk. Generally speaking, clubs are reluctant to pay big money to wingers anyway. Most would have no issue doing that on a player as talented as Johnstone but his injury record will no doubt leave clubs mulling over a move when otherwise they would not

Ultimately, Johnstone's future will be determined by whether a club is willing to take a calculated risk. There are some clubs who may trust their medical departments enough to believe they can get him on the field longer than Wakefield. If they can do that, they will justify paying the money his agent will no doubt be commanding. But 'if' is the biggest word in professional sport, and it's a very big if, too.

It would be easy for fans of every club in Super League to plead with the decision-makers to go and sign Johnstone, and those sort of calls are entirely understandable. But another major injury would mean a fair chunk of salary cap sat on the sidelines that can't be reinvested, which then frustrates fans down the line.

A good comparison is that of David Fusitu'a. A fellow winger, Leeds Rhinos fans were delighted to have signed the former Dally M winger, despite the fact he arrived after two years of torrid injury troubles. Now, he has managed just three appearances, two of which he went off injured in, and he has now undergone minor knee surgery. Now, there are concerns about whether it was the right signing to make.

That is the big deliberation facing clubs over Johnstone.

Wakefield themselves will no doubt have a say in the matter. Trinity aren't the biggest spenders in Super League but they should be in a position to compete financially with other clubs unless a rival blows them out of the water with figures they simply cannot reach.

Johnstone has played in seven of Wakefield's nine games so far this year, a solid enough ratio that will be looked upon favourably. And regardless of where he ends up, most fans, irrelevant of their allegiance, will no doubt wish to see more of Johnstone on the field in the years to come.

Best he stay put then.

"There are some clubs who may trust their medical departments enough to believe they can get him on the field longer than Wakefield."

How will that work?

I Hope he stays but if he is to leave i hope it is to the NRL - I reckon he can cut it .

I have heard a little whisper the Bulldogs are interested in chatting to him when they are allowed ,but as article suggets they are worried about the injury record .

They have on site ACL reconstruction departments that gets players back on the pitch after 24hrs. Also they make their players wear special bath caps to help reduce concussion .....

Hardly a draw joining the NRL’s whipping boys. With a newborn doubt he’ll go to the NRL. I’m confident he’ll stay with us.

I hope he does because although he misses some games the ones he does play in he is almost always responsible for try’s or involved in the build up. His class can’t be doubted. Let’s hope his future lies at trinity.

I'd be very disappointed to see TJ leave the club, but I'm sure the club will make every effort to retain his services. But at the end of the day it's a decision for Tom and his advisors to make.

In these days of agents, being the cynic that I am, I'm sure they will recommend that Tom does whatever's the best for them.

Quote ="Pat Bateman"They have on site ACL reconstruction departments that gets players back on the pitch after 24hrs. Also they make their players wear special bath caps to help reduce concussion .....'" these caps ? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baseball-Prope ... NrPXRydWU=

Quote ="Pat Bateman"They have on site ACL reconstruction departments that gets players back on the pitch after 24hrs. Also they make their players wear special bath caps to help reduce concussion .....'" these caps ? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baseball-Prope ... NrPXRydWU=

Shouldn’t be too difficult to displace the current left winger at the Bulldogs!

I think this is a poor article.

TJ’s injury situation is imho a bit exaggerated.

In 7 seasons he’s averaged 15 games a season with a try average of one per game.

If he manages similar in the next 7 years he will be worth every penny.

15 games a season or more from such a devastating player is worth the risk.

As an aside I was watching some highlights from 2016 and 2017 the other day. I was amazed when I watched by how many of TJ’s contemporaries are now long gone from SL.

TJ has great longevity compared to many players.

He’ll get snapped up if he doesn’t sign for us. But if he’s smart he will stay right here.

Tom should put in his transfer request in the morning!!
Our most potent attacking force and I don’t think he received a single pass on the wing tonight. He’s completely wasted at Belle Vue.

Just when I thought the last of the toys had left the pram… there goes another one!

we don't deserve him

But I’m not wrong am I.

Losing Johnstone for me would be a bitter pill to swallow not only for the club but fans alike ,to see him in full flight is a sight to behold and about the only good thing that’s happening on the field this season .selfish I know but we need to retain him at all costs ,but more performances like last night are really going to hurt our chances of doing that . He would be a devastating addition in a team where the forwards lay the platform and the half’s create gaps for the centres to put their wingers away , unlike us who have our wingers coming inside and doing the forwards work because they aren’t up to it . He’s a big fish in a little pond for us and a real crowd pleaser and who the hell apart from fifita have we got who can light up the stadium on his own . Don’t care how smart the new stadium will look , without the likes of a Johnstone in the team the place will be devoid of atmosphere and have nothing for us fans to marvel at .

We can't afford to lose Tom right now, he's one of the only (possibly only) great things we have.
To lose him would be devastating.

Not really, that’s just a statement of fact.

Don’t give up your day job, you’re not funny.

TJ average 15 games a season and a world class winger
Ken Hirst only played 140 in 12-13 seasons again world class

If Trinity could get a decent fee for TJ I wouldn’t be too disappointed sadly I fear he will leave for nothing at the end of this season
Hopefully he will extend

It's impossible to put yourself in Tom's boots.
If he wants to be in with a chance of winning things probably 3 clubs fit the criteria, if however he wants to join an ambitious club who have plans then 4 or 5 may attract him,
He could however stay with us and win nothing,

I think he’s in a similar position to Dave Topliss just before his move to Hull FC.
A home grown player who’s given us a big part of his prime years but now needs to move on to get some success before he starts to decline.

He also needs to look at someone like Kyle Amor, gave us a great 3 years then moved to Sts where he’s won everything the game offer multiple times.

I’d wish Tom well wherever he goes, his talent deserves a better stage than we can offer him.

Out of contract end of season so one of the clubs biggest assets will go on a free transfer…..leaving the club unable to utilise much needed funds to strengthen the squad…

Interesting analogy … I think Toppo had been at the club for 13 or 14 years … we had sold on a lot of the 79 cup final team but had replaced well and just finished fourth in the league… only to get absolutely creamed by Castleford at home in the play offs with an ex wakey cast off running rings round our fragile defence…yet only a few weeks earlier we had piled on the points an a fine victory over Leeds!! (Seems the more things change the more they stay the same!)

Many were saying it was time for him to move on and we could build a new dynasty without him… truth is he left .. we continued to sell and spent several seasons yo-yoing between relegation and promotion before Toppo returned as coach… then almost immediately after he left as coach we returned to second division oblivion!

Tom has had no where near the impact of Toppo on the club… although nonetheless a massively talented winger.

No he starts with a presupposition of opinion… then justifies using facts… and when I start taking advice from someone with your track record it will be a sad day!