Souths flyer hoping to settle future

Young tryscoring sensation Alex Johnston is hoping to recommit to South Sydney but, with ambitions to play fullback, he isn’t completely ruling out a move from the NRL premiers.

Johnston last year proved one of the discoveries of the season, bagging 21 tries in just 18 games and he’s continued the hot run with four more four-pointers already in 2015.

But the 20-year-old is off contract at the end of the season and is leaving his future in his management’s hands.

“I’m a Souths junior. I love to play here and if that gets sorted, that’d be great,” Johnston said on Tuesday.

“But nothing’s been signed yet. We’re still negotiating. All that’s been going on behind the scenes with my managers, who are working hard and I’m just focused on playing good footy.”

Since debuting in round eight last year, Johnston has played almost exclusively on the wing but he harbours hopes of one day getting a crack in a No.1 jumper.

“At the moment, I’m on the wing and I love doing my job,” he said.

“I’m getting passes from one of the best in the world in Gregie (Inglis), so I don’t mind that.

“I’m just happy knowing I’m doing my job.”

Asked if he could be tempted to leave the Rabbitohs if a fullback role came up elsewhere, Johnston said: “Playing fullback is a dream of mine some day”.

“There’s door’s opening up everywhere, but first things first and I’m just focusing on my footy.”

Like all Souths fans, halfback Adam Reynolds is hoping Johnston remains at Redfern beyond 2015.

“He’s a quality young player,” Reynolds said.

“He’ll do what’s best for him and his family. It’d be good to have him here, though.”

With Nathan Merritt and Lote Tuqiri retiring last year and Kangaroos centre Dylan Walker out injured, Johnston is fast becoming one of the senior members of the Rabbitohs’ new-look backline.

“I’m getting a lot more confident, that’s for sure,” Johnston said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a leader – we’re all leaders – and I’m still trying to get my foot through the door and just learning from others.”

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