NRL legend Andrew Johns tips Sydney Roosters’ half-back to make Super League switch with loan deal

NRL legend Andrew Johns is tipping Sydney Roosters half-back Hugo Savala to make a temporary move to Super League.

Savala has been one of the Roosters’ key men this season in the NRL, making 17 appearances in the halves with his time in the side being split between partnering Sandon Smith and Sam Walker. This season has been Savala’s first in the Roosters first grade and he’s managed to mark it with four tries, his most recent coming in the convincing win over the Dolphins a couple of weeks ago.

However, the 23-year-old’s spot in the side is uncertain heading into next season, as talk of Daly Cherry-Evans making the move to the Roosters gathers pace. Should the Australia international make the move to the Eastern Suburbs, he would be expected to partner Walker in the halves and that would leave the promising Savala on the peripheries.

Johns though believes the best thing for Savala would be to spend next season away from the Roosters on loan, potentially in Super League.

Hugo Savala ‘could benefit from Super League switch’

“DCE will start next year at No.6 and Sam will have the keys to the team,” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.

“Whether that’s the same mid-year we will see, but the big question is what Hugo Savala will do, whether he will stick around and wait for another year in the lower grades.

“I think he will go out on some sort of loan deal. It might be good for his development to go to England for a bit.”

Where Savala would go in Super League is hard to say, but with quota spots increasing to 10 for next season, a number of clubs would be putting their hands up to sign the playmaker if he were made available on a temporary deal.