THERE is a lot of love about for Jack Johnson’s successful return to the Warrington Wolves first team.

The 23-year-old, who suffered a double leg break on the training ground shortly before the 2018 campaign began, featured on the left wing as Warrington Wolves beat Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in Betfred Super League Round 14.


It has been a long way back for a player that head coach Steve Price was impressed with in pre-season training after first taking charge of the club.

Three games for partner club Rochdale Hornets in the Championship led to JJ's surprise call-up against Cas, having not been named in the 19-man squad.

But with winger Tom Lineham absent with a knee injury and centre Bryson Goodwin considered not fully recovered from an ankle problem – and Jake Mamo still sidelined with an ankle injury – Price decided he had seen enough in Johnson’s comeback performances at Rochdale to hand him his return to the first team.

It was Johnson’s first game under Price, his first in Super League since July 2017.

“They’re good stories – to snap your tibula, fibula, miss the whole year and to come back,” said Price.

“He’s only been back three games with Rochdale and I thought he did some really good things for us.”



 

Ben Currie knows better than anyone what his Audenshaw-born teammate has been through to get back to the top level.

While Currie was sidelined with his second ACL rupture in two years, he and Johnson came through rehab together.

“I’m really happy for Jack,” said Currie, who crossed for The Wire’s fourth and final try in the victory at Castleford.

“I’ve done a lot of my rehab with him over the past 12 months, so I was really pleased to see him play and he had a really good game.

“With doing our injuries at similar times, we went through it together so week-in week-out we were together in the gym and working hard.



 



 

“I know some of the dark days he’s had, some of the bad news and setbacks he’s had along the way, so I’m really pleased for him now to get his chance.”

Currie noticed one particular aspect of Johnson’s pre-match preparations.

“He was nervous before the game,” said Currie.

“I don’t know if he’s nervous before every game, but he was getting sickness tablets off the doctor.

“I don’t know if that was over his leg, or if he’s like that all the time.

“He probably wasn’t sure he was playing until a couple of days before, it was on the edge, so I’m really pleased for him and luckily I’m on the field with him as well.

“I know how it feels after a long time out. I made my return game against Cas at home.

“You just want to get through the 80 minutes, but he’s been playing for Rochdale the past couple of weeks and he’s been playing really well.

> READ: Wire latest injury news

“He played two games in four days which was a tough turnaround for him but I’m really pleased for him.”

Johnson said afterwards: “It’s great to be back, it’s been a long, long, time since I’ve last played in the first team and it was even better to get the win.

“I got a bit of an inkling on Tuesday that I might be playing. Pricey chucked it in there that I had a chance.



 

“And then it was on Thursday for the team run that I got the nod.

“It was a massive win for us. Most of the second half we seemed to be defending on our try line but we dug in and it’s a pleasing win because it’s a tough place to go.”