Rugby League: Anatomy Of A Breakup – How The Warriors And Shaun Johnson Falled In Love

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Shaun Johnson had a million reasons to stay with the Warriors one more year.

The highest-paid player in the club's history also had a decent chance to help his team take advantage of this year's top eight finishes and tip the scales for a premier position both expected.

But even a seven-figure paycheck and the lure of a historic title win were not enough for the 28-year-old backstriper to stay at Mt Smart Stadium and prove that he deserved another extension of contract.

Johnson is used to having things his way. It's been like that since the former winner of the Golden Boot took off in the first year with the best side step since Brad Fittler.

And even in the biggest divorce of the history of the Warriors in 25 years, Johnson has succeeded.

The Warriors confirmed the inevitable Wednesday by accepting Johnson's request for an immediate release from the last year of his lucrative contract.

Request for meeting rejected

The search for alternate # 7 for 2019 and beyond is now beginning.

The Warriors have few options at the moment and President and CEO Cameron George and coach Stephen Kearney are under fire from upset supporters for allowing the situation to unfold.

None of the expected things would unfold as they were. Both hope Johnson will be on the deck next season, but the events of the past three days would have left them no choice but to reduce the club's top scorer.

Johnson has generated a lot of sympathy, but must share some responsibility for his role in the soap opera.

First, Johnson said he was unaware that the club would not rush to propose a contract extension.

It was apparently a news for him last month. During the Kiwis' end of year tour in England, he read the Herald report that he was free to explore his options and test his market value.

Outraged supporters are offended by the suggestion that the club has not warned Johnson of their plans but strict rules are in place to allow clubs to discuss contractual issues with players.

These discussions must be conducted through a player's agent or with all three parties together.

However, the Warriors had in fact informed its director of this detail in September – at least two weeks before New Zealand's victory over Australia in Auckland.

Upon his return to Auckland, Johnson told the media that he was still waiting to hear from the Warriors about the situation.

With the exception of Kearney, who was in the United States as part of a fact-finding mission, the NBA franchise survey facilities as well as the members of the Warriors management group have took the time to call Johnson upset in the UK.

It is understood that he assured Johnson that nothing had changed.

It was still part of the plans for next year.

All he needed was to worry about the performance and a new contract would take care of himself.

After Kiwis returned home, upset Johnson and his agent rebuffed a request from the club to hold a meeting and settle their differences.

The Warriors' point of view on Johnson then faded after the club's international players were summoned for medical exams before the end-of-season holidays.

the Herald The club management group understood that it would be beneficial for test players to join the rest of the team in pre-season training sessions from one week to the end of December, so that the entire NRL group can work together before separating. Christmas holidays.

It was proposed to give test players a week off later in January or February.

Leeson Ah Mau, a new rookie in the front row, would have jumped at the opportunity to quickly settle in and get to know his new teammates.

Another Kiwi player was open to the idea, but could not do so because of pre-booked family vacations abroad.

When Johnson was asked, still hurt by the club's position, if he was willing to participate, he would have refused, citing the Rugby League Player Association's agreement that players are entitled to six weeks leave per year.

Tensions continued to subside during the last two weeks, but the Warriors would have remained open to compromise and waited for him to agree to sit down.

But the rift widened on Monday, when Johnson, who had already complained about the disadvantages of social media, used Facebook to make public an emotional message in which he informed his subscribers: "They are m & # 39; have again said at this point that they would not offer me anything. "

The Warriors refuted this assertion before Johnson contacted the club to schedule a meeting with his manager, Peter Brown, with George, Kearney and the recruiting manager, Peter O. Sullivan, Tuesday morning.

It is understood that the group had just sat down before Johnson informed the club that he wanted to withdraw as soon as possible.

Change of custody

His departure is now confirmed but the Warriors have ceased to be Johnson's team a long time ago.

The arrival of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the club in 2016 marked the change of the guard with respect to the identity of the real club brand player.

The inspiring Warriors captain and Dally M medal-winning medalist half-back bring not only offensive brilliance, but also regularity and an uncompromising approach to weekly performance in both games and home runs. training.

Every day.

The same can not be said of Johnson.

Club sources revealed that although both players had similar salaries, the difference in attitude and commitment between the two players was "similar to that of day and night".

Tuivasa-Sheck is always aware of its responsibility to lead the way and set standards for younger, less experienced players, to constantly do extras and strive for perfection. Herald has been said.

Johnson, however, does not have the same reputation.

Within the Warriors, his work ethic and attitude toward training has long been frustrating.

Unlike Tuivasa-Sheck, or retired club legend Simon Mannering, Johnson is not the first to train and the last to leave. Constantly working on the percentages – kicking and shooting on goal, for example – is not his goal.

His fragile trust and his inability to accept or dismiss criticisms – that they are constructive, harsh or unjustified – of the five coaches who guided him throughout his career, that he & # 39; 39, act of his fans or the media, are well known.

His petulant "you got your way" erupted after defeat in the Kiwis World Cup semi-finals against Fiji last year embodied his defensive state of mind.

This delicate temperament has resurfaced recently – even after he was given the title of matchman after the shocking Kiwis victory over the Kangaroos – when he said, "It's a pleasure to speak with you after a victory. positive. Most of the time, I'm on the front when things are not going well. "

But forget the good times, the leadership and the responsibility of his failings as a player or his poor performances have never been his strength.

There is reason to worry about whether Johnson is the right player to lead the Warriors to the glory of the grand finale – or even regular playoff matches.

After helping the club play its second run in the finals since 2011, Johnson was later missing in Penrith's loss to Sydney.

This continued a familiar trend that goes against what is expected of a very strong playmaker.

The Warriors now have a lot of money to spend on recruiting new talent and may choose to look for a short-term discount option in the halves or offer an opportunity to one of the club's youth while seeking to strengthen their group.

It may not bring them a title next year or in the near future, but that never seems imminent with Johnson wearing No. 7 jersey either.

Breaking is never easy, but in this case, it might be the best thing for everyone involved.