Johnson happy to be moving on at Fylde

“After six years at Huddersfield, I felt I needed a new challenge, and when the chance to move to Fylde arose I felt this was the right option for me.

“Huddersfield have done a lot for me, both on the field and off.

“It’s a special place, where I have made some great friends, but the time is right for me to move on.”

Johnson added: “I am honoured to be playing for Fylde due its rich history and some of the great players who have played for the club, and with a back line containing Oli Brennand and Nick Royle I can’t wait for the season to start.

“I have been very impressed with the way Fylde play the game, and although this is a very different style to Huddersfield, I hope to add my own dimension to the team and push the club forward.”

Johnson, like the rest of his Lancashire team-mates, is one match away from a date at Twickenham.

Lancashire, the reigning champions, will get back there if they beat Cheshire on Saturday in the final match of the northern section at Broughton Park.

Lancashire are unbeaten, having defeated Yorkshire at Scarborough in their latest fixture by 54-33.

Coach Mark Nelson said of that Roses triumph: “This was the best Lancashire performance in a Roses match since I’ve been involved – we had a lot of old heads and a lot of pace and we probably played the better rugby.

“Yorkshire are a good side and if you look at their team they have very good players.

“But we managed to score some particularly good team tries by playing an attacking brand of rugby, keeping possession and putting them under pressure.

“Oli Brennand has a lot of pace and scored four times, but the tries and the chances all had to be created by some very good moves and were very much team tries that he finished off well.

“The whole package was excellent.

“Scarborough’s facilities are Championship standard – the pitch was superb and everything about the place was spot on.

“The whole day was a credit to everyone involved and a glowing testament to the appeal that county rugby has.”

The Bill Beaumont Cup final for the county title will be contested at Twickenham on May 27.