Warriors to use Johnson cap space to retain Luke
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The Warriors are moving to upgrade Issac Luke's 2019 contract with the salary cap space freed up by Shaun Johnson's exit to ensure their veteran hooker doesn't follow him out the door.
Luke is on a cut-price deal that NRL.com understands is worth no more than $200,000 for this season, with the club and his management wrangling for months at the end of last year before a one-year extension was signed.
The 31-year-old has attracted interest from Parramatta, and a clause in his contract that would see the Warriors consider releasing him in 'good faith' if a more lucrative offer was made that allows Luke to set himself and his family up once he retires.
Though no formal offer has been tabled by the Eels or any other NRL rival, Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan has met with Luke and his management this week to discuss an upgrade and the removal of his exit clause.
NRL.com understands that negotiations of a revised contract could be finalised as soon as the end of this week.
While Luke signed his current deal in October, Johnson's messy move to Cronulla two months later leaves the Warriors with a healthy war chest and the ability to upgrade the former Kiwi hooker.
"We've discussed [a contract upgrade] and Peter O'Sullivan is discussing that with him, Pete has been in constant contact and I think they're just giving that some thought now," Warriors CEO Cameron George told NRL.com.
"I'm not aware of any other interest from any other club in an official capacity. Things have of course been speculated and reported."
George also denied reported interest in English Test half George Williams.
Williams has a clause in his deal with Wigan that allows him to pursue an NRL move if the Super League club are paid what's believed to be a substantial transfer fee.
But the Warriors are content to bide their time when it comes to finding Johnson's replacement in the market place, particularly with salary cap punishments for Cronulla and Wests Tigers potentially forcing clubs to shed players.
