The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the extension of contract of young prop-forward Sam Johnstone until at least the end of the 2020 season.

Johnstone, 19, is a front-row forward from Mackay in Queensland, who came to Sydney in 2016 to play with the South Sydney under 18s SG Ball team.

Johnstone graduated to the Rabbitohs’ under 20s squad in 2017 and has gone on to play 24 NYC games in the red and green.

Johnstone was part of the Queensland under 20s squad this season and standing 196cm and weighing in at 116kg, he will provide size to the Club’s front row depth for next year and beyond.

Rabbitohs Head Coach Anthony Seibold is pleased to see Johnstone commit to the Rabbitohs long term.

“Sam has had a really consistent year in the Holden Cup under 20s competition this year and his efforts were recognised with his inclusion in the Queensland under 20s squad earlier this year,” Coach Seibold said.

“His progression to our full time squad in 2018 is reward for his hard work and we’re really keen to see his development both physically and in his game awareness over the next three years.

“Sam is a big body in the middle of the field, he adds depth to our front row stocks and we’re really excited to have him commit to us for the long term.”