Cowboys take action amid Roosters' interest in Reece Robson as Alex Johnston could be forced out

The North Queensland Cowboys have moved to lock down Origin hooker Reece Robson, amid reported interest from Trent Robinson's Sydney Roosters. Robson is contracted until the end of the 2025 NRL season but since November 1 has been free to speak with rival clubs for 2026 and onwards, despite the Cowboys indicating they want to extend the Blues' No.9 beyond his current deal.

Robson was part of the Kangaroos' victorious Pacific Championships squad and the Cowboys made it clear they wanted to prioritise his extension when the series finished. And according to The Daily Telegraph, the Cowboys have tabled Robson and his representatives a new deal to keep him at the club and fend off interest from rivals.

However, the same report says the cashed-up Roosters are interested in bringing Robson to Sydney as a replacement for fellow hooker, Brandon Smith. The Kiwi international will be sidelined for the first half of the new season with an ACL injury but it's understood Smith's management have already been contacting rival clubs to gauge interest in the rake.

Smith does not appear to be in Robinson's plans going forward after enjoying a mixed career to date in Sydney after making the switch from the Melbourne Storm. And the Roosters have plenty of cap space to chase someone of Robson's quality, following the release of Terrell May to the Tigers and the departures of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joseph Manu, Joseph Suaalii, Luke Keary and Sitili Tupouniua.

Robson is NSW-born and could be tempted to return to his home state, with the lure of linking up with the Roosters a difficult prospect to pass up for many players. The situation also raises the possibility of a potential Smith-Robson swap between the Roosters and Cowboys - a scenario that would see Kiwi Test star Smith return to the club that sacked him during his early days in footy.

Robinson has made no secret of the Roosters' need for cover at hooker, and it's understood that's where they saw Ben Hunt playing if the veteran decided to join the club. But Hunt will be 35 when the new season gets underway and the 26-year-old Robson is undoubtedly a better long-term option. Whether the Roosters can convince him to leave the Cowboys remains to be seen.

Alex Johnston's future at South Sydney remains uncertain

Another player whose future is up in the air is South Sydney's record tryscorer Alex Johnston, who has not been offered an extension to his current deal according to News Corp. Johnston sits in second spot on the all-time try-scorers list behind Ken Irvine with 195 tries in 227 games for the Rabbitohs. But the flyer is battling to be fit for the start of the new season after rupturing his Achilles at the back end of last season.

Johnston is contracted until the end of 2025 but it's unclear if he is part of master coach Wayne Bennett's plans moving forward. The Rabbitohs are expected to wait and see how the 29-year-old returns from his injury, before deciding whether to offer him an extension and it's understood a number of rival clubs are circling.

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South Sydney have a bit of a salary cap juggling act to navigate and may have to wait and see if they can afford to keep Johnston. The Bunnies have freed up some space after the release of hooker Damien Cook and halfback Lachlan Ilias but Bennett's side have added Euan Aitken, Lewis Dodd and Jamie Humphreys for next season.

However, Johnston's representatives have reportedly being gauging interest in the winger after he hit the open market on November 1. Johnston's injury could make a move for the flyer a risk at this moment in time but his ability to find the tryline is undeniable and it remains to be seen if Souths would be able to compete with their rivals if it comes down to money.