Rugby League: Shaun Johnson and New Zealand Warriors Should Separate

Prepare for yourselves, Warriors fans – the Auckland-based NRL club is ready to play superstar Shaun Johnson.

The soap opera with the Penrose-based franchise, 28 years old and about to end, is about to end. The club announces a press conference at 10:45 to clarify the future of Johnson.

It is expected that the Warriors will confirm that Johnson has been released from the last year of his $ 1 million contract per season after his claim was initially denied yesterday.

As the Herald reported for the first time, an upset Johnson met on Tuesday morning with the boss of the Warriors, Cameron George, and his coach, Stephen Kearney, and demanded an immediate release.

It is unclear exactly where the former Golden Boot winner might land, but Cronulla would be among the first among a group of at least four clubs willing to bid for his services.

St George Illawarra has also become a potential destination with overnight news that star playmaker Gareth Widdop has called for the release of his three-year return contract for his return to England.

[[[[Johnathan Thurston's warning to the Warriors: Shaun Johnson would fly away]

The Warriors began by refusing to release Johnson, but it is thought that the situation has become untenable and that the break now seems to be the best and the only option for both parties.

The developments come after the club announced last month that they had informed Johnson and his agent that they were in no hurry to sign the mercurial playmaker again next season.

[[[[It was Shaun Johnson's great chance to prove a point to the Kiwis – he did not do it.]

The club has not yet ruled out signing Johnson again but it was said that he was free to test his value and explore his options in the free market.

It is believed the Warriors are planning to replace the veteran of the 162 games in the long-term, but it is unclear who they plan to place in both halves, alongside five-eighths of Blake Green next season.

More soon…