Tom Johnstone pulling out all the stops to ensure days on the treatment table are over

The prospect of a new and improved Tom Johnstone is a scary thought for the rest of Super League.

But after a difficult 2021 season which saw the 26-year-old battle multiple head knocks and a period where his future as a rugby league player seemed genuinely under threat, the Wakefield winger has reinvented himself over the winter and has sent out a stark warning to the rest of the competition.

With a newly-appointed nutritionist to help sharpen his attitude away from the field and a performance coach to take his game to the next level on it, the determination from the England international is clear to see. But first and foremost, there is a sense of relief the issues of last year are now behind him.

"I sat down with the specialist recently and he said everything was heading in the right direction," Johnstone admits.

"I just needed a break from all the contact. I'm the heaviest I've ever been now, around 100kg, which is the heaviest I've been, but he said that's good, as the more I look after my body and put a bit of size on, your head will follow. I've dropped a bit of weight since but I've trained every day in pre-season other than two over Christmas, when I had Covid, so I'm feeling spot on."

Johnstone suffered three concussions inside six months last season, which forced him to be stood down from selection for Trinity's final games of the season. "I just didn't feel fully okay in myself," he reflects.

"I couldn't feel comfortable doing anything but now I'm feeling miles better. I haven't had anything wrong with me, and I've just been trying to focus on all the good things and the rugby side of everything for a change."

Now cleared by the specialist to resume contact training and playing, Johnstone has