“We also have some bright young outside backs coming through, and ‘AJ’ has a lot of experience and is good on and off the field. He’ll set a good example for those youngsters.

“AJ has been very loyal to the club at different stages and in difficult situations. We also felt we had an obligation to repay that loyalty.”

Johnston has been on the end of some devastating backlines, and could yet line up outside Latrell Mitchell. New coach Jason Demetriou has already declared Mitchell will return from suspension in the No. 1 jersey, but the club also has Blake Taaffe, and Mitchell is a representative left centre.

Walker is seen as a prime target for Redcliffe given he spent a lot of time in the Queensland Cup, but Souths, who have lost their little general Adam Reynolds, know the importance of keeping their five-eighth beyond 2022.

Turning 32 next January, Walker would command around $800,000 a season, but could have seriously pushed for more had he helped Souths win the premiership earlier this month.

“We’re still talking about the terms of a contract with Cody and his management, but we want Cody at the club even after his on-field career has finished,” Solly said.

“Hopefully we can get something done this week or next. We always said we would wait until the season was finished, and we are working through a deal with Cody and his management now.”

Elsewhere, there has been little movement on Josh Hodgson’s potential move from Canberra to the Wests Tigers who also distanced themselves from signing Penrith’s Api Koroisau for next year.

Koroisau’s management reached out to the Tigers late last week about 2023, not 2022, and there is not much of an appetite from some at the club.

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The Tigers will not budge on what they are prepared to pay Hodgson, and are only interested in signing the Englishman for next year and possibly 2023.

Adam Elliott is expected to meet with the Raiders via Zoom this week with the Raiders prepared to table the former Bulldog a one-year contract.

There were also whispers Nick Cotric was potentially eyeing a return home to the nation’s capital, despite being on Parramatta’s radar while earning a decent pay packet from Canterbury.

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