Shaun Johnson will distance Warriors from expectations, says former teammate

Shaun Johnson would flourish for a club like the Cronulla Sharks, far from the pressure of waiting that he had at the Warriors, said Shark and former warrior Chad Townsend.

Johnson is generally expected to sign with the Sharks after the Warriors granted him an immediate release, halfway through a two-year contract.

Townsend, who spent two seasons playing alongside Johnson at the Warriors, said at the The telegraph of the day he "would like" to have the chance to revive their combination.

He also said that he was stunned by the Warriors' decision to let him go.

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"I do not know what their [Warriors] The motivation was, it's hard to understand when you consider what Shaun means to the warriors and New Zealand, "Townsend said.

"What he hears from the New Zealand rugby league is huge – he's the face of the rugby league in New Zealand.

"I saw him first hand.

"I do not think the Australians really understand.As long as you're not there and you see it every day, you understand the magnitude of the interest it has. door, "said Townsend at The telegraph of the day.

The pair played 34 games together in two seasons, ending with the move from Townsend to Cronulla in 2016.

The Premier League half-winner believes Johnson will flourish in a club that will not stand the pressure of victory and defeat, as he did at the Warriors.

"Although he is definitely a star player in the league, if he shows up at the Sharks, I do not think he would have the pressure and expectation that he could bring the team as it was, "Townsend said.

"He could just come in and do his job."

In the meantime, veteran The telegraph of the day Journalist Buzz Rothfield believes the Sharks will insist on a contract of more than a year with Johnson.

"He goes to Cronulla, a great rookie for the club, and I know he and his agent originally only wanted a one – year contract to see how he was doing. but Cronulla feels that the club will not be used as a transit lounge that would open the door to a club like the Sydney Roosters to seize it in 2020, "Rothfield said. Radio Sport.

"They are in talks just to sign the agreement and I think by the end of the day, Shaun Johnson will have signed a three year contract with the Sharks.

Rothfield said he heard rumors of dissatisfaction before the Warriors' sudden release of Johnson.

"I do not know how it suited the rest of the players, I'm not saying that it was a separate cloakroom, but what I can tell you, it's [that he was] always the last to arrive and the first to leave and he was not a great team player.

"I do not think he's getting along very well with Stephen Kearney because his attitude was probably more towards him than his team." That's why there was a breakdown and why the CEO [Cameron George] did not give him the initial comments that he deserved, "said Rothfield Radio Sport.

"It's a bit of a shame for the game." He's the most popular footballer in the New Zealand League, he's undeniably one of the biggest social media players, and I think Shaun Johnson plays five or six games at 9/10. every year thinks it's coming every week, "Rothfield said.

"You saw him in the semifinal against Penrith at the ANZ stadium, when the Warriors bombed so badly after a good year, he needs to find more consistency to become a really great player."