The Australian league's identity launches a stinging attack on the Warriors after the release of Shaun Johnson

A leading identity in the rugby league accused the Warriors of leaving Shaun Johnson to leave the club.

Peter Peters, former radio commentator and former manager of Manly, launched a bitter attack on Warriors management for releasing the club's pin-up boy.

The Warriors announced on Wednesday that the star's backstroke had agreed to an immediate release from the Auckland-based club.

Johnson has been under contract with the Warriors for the upcoming 2019 season.

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Peters said the Warriors stole thousands of heroes from the young New Zealand League fan and described the move as "staggering, unworthy, useless and exaggerated".

"Thousands of children must wake up today in New Zealand with the No. 7 jersey, wondering what's going on, they've been robbed of their hero, they've been virtually fired from the club." where he has played so much, "Peters told Radio Sport.

"He's a special player, he's the top scorer in the history of the club, he's in the New Zealand rugby league what JT [Johnathan Thurston] was at the Australian Rugby League ".

The Peters explosion is the result of a mixed reaction from former Warriors players. Things Johnson's release should have happened "years ago".

Some former teammates, who wanted to remain anonymous, were scathing in their opinions and felt that the move should have been done years ago.

Peters has questioned the lack of public comment from Warrior coach Stephen Kearney and has reserved special criticism to Warriors GM Cameron George.

"The coach played a significant role in his absence in all of this.He did not say a word.Anything comes back to a guy who was organizing the races there in Auckland just 12 months ago. It does not matter, "Peters told Radio Sport.

But George had a not too subtle goodbye experience at Johnson for his lack of consistency.

Peters, an undisputed figure in Australian rugby league circles, blamed the influx of Australian influences on the Warriors for allowing Johnson to walk.

"On this side of the gap, it seems that the Australian influence of Brian Smith (General Manager of Warriors football), Todd Payton (new assistant coach), Peter O. Sullivan (Head of Recruitment) and from an ears in terms of being a CEO of rugby league pushing the face of the game in New Zealand [in it] and Shaun Johnson at the door.

"There is no other way to look at it." They practically did it while he was there. [Johnson] was touring the UK with the Kiwis. It's worse, it seems the Warriors have fallen into the trap of too many influential people, "Peter Peters told Radio Sport.