Kearney to find Johnson replacement from among rookie trio

The Warriors are all but certain to go into the NRL season with a rookie halfback with coach Stephen Kearney saying they are not on the lookout to sign a new No.7 to replace Shaun Johnson.

Kearney on Thursday said he was happy with his options of young gun Chanel Harris-Tavita, former Penrith lower-grader Adam Keighran and teenager Hayze Perham to partner veteran five-eighth Blake Green in the halves.

Johnson left the club in November after gaining a release from the final year of his contract. He quickly took up a three-year deal with Cronulla.

Kearney and assistant coaches Stacey Jones and Todd Payten have been trialling all three alongside Green during pre-season training.

"All three young men obviously sense there's an opportunity and we've been putting them in as Greeny's other half, different each week, so they're getting a run with Green so the three of them are tracking along nicely.

"At this stage, we're happy with the guys we've got."

When asked if a preferred option had emerged from the trio, Kearney said: "I couldn't say at this stage, it changes from session to session.

"All I know is they're working really hard with Stacey and Toddy and obviously Stacey has a lot of experience in that area and is doing a lot of work with them."

He added there was no rush to make a decision on who would inherit Johnson's jersey.

"That's the point in why we've been swapping the guys each week and giving them a run getting them familiar around the shadow NRL top 17 and we won't make that decision until after the two trials we have so they'll get an opportunity to play together against Melbourne," he said.

"In terms of a final decision we won't do that until we have to, the week before the competition starts."

Veteran hooker Issac Luke is in doubt for the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

The New Zealand international is expected to start contact training at the end of the month, with his return to action to be determined after that.

Back-up hooker Nathaniel Roache is also in the casualty ward due to a hamstring injury suffered before Christmas but is expected to return to full training in the next few weeks.