The Cronulla Sharks have told halfback Shaun Johnson that his services won’t be needed beyond the 2021 season, along with centre Josh Dugan and prop forward Aaron Woods.
These three players take up a total of $2 million worth of salary cap each year to underperform.
Shaun Johnson joined the Sharks in 2019 and has not lived up his million-dollar pay check but I will give the New Zealand halfback credit as every fan should after Johnson finished tied for first place in try assists in season 2020 with 23 try assists and the player he tied with is Jarome Luai from the Panthers.
The New Zealand halfback has only played four games in season 2021 after suffering a foot injury towards the back end of last season and Johnson has managed to force five goal-line drop outs, assist in two tries and two line break assists and average 280 kicking metres.
After Johnson was told he was no longer needed at the Sharks past season 2021, the South Sydney Rabbitohs became an early favourite to sign the unwanted Sharks halfback after Rabbitohs junior and premiership winner Adam Reynolds signed a three-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos.
When I saw Johnson linked to the Rabbitohs, I had mixed emotions but I have finally weighed up some pros and cons with the Rabbitohs possibly signing the Kiwi halfback. The one criticism Johnson has had in recent years is that he only has three or four good games a season.
(Tony Feder/Getty Images)
I tend to agree with this but I will certainly back up Shaun Johnson because he has been a part of an average Sharks team in recent years and was obviously with the New Zealand Warriors but they have always been inconsistent with or without Johnson.
I would love to see Johnson wear that red and green jersey with the seven on his back, combining with players like Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook. He would be playing on the side with centre Campbell Graham and second row forward Jaydn Su’A if he gets resigned and whoever will be on right wing for the Rabbitohs in season 2022.
I fully understand that Johnson does not have the kicking game that Reynolds does but Johnson proved that he can set up and score points in attack in season 2020 although his defence has been a big question mark over the halfback.
Not many other high quality halfbacks are currently available to sign in the free market but the Rabbitohs can reach into their junior grade side and can grab players Dean Hawkins, Troy Dargan or Blake Taaffe, who can all play halfback.
Johnson would flourish in a good attacking and defensive team like the Rabbitohs, which can really free up Johnson, which could be really dangerous for the opposing sides coming up against the red and green.
jamesb
Roar Guru
What could potentially happen is the Rabbits offer Johnson a 1 year deal. Johnson and C.Walker in the halves in 2022. Taafe would be back up. But in 2023, Walker could be off to the new Brisbane side and reunite with Bennett. While at the Rabbits, they sign Johnson to another 1 year deal, and then bring in a young half like Taafe. Ilias would be back up. And in 2024, Johnson goes elsewhere, and the Rabbits have the two young halves in Taafe and Ilias.
Tetley
Guest
I think that would be a pretty extreme move. I'm talking about getting them playing next year, rather than recruiting SJ.
blahblah
Guest
Sounds like Souths are chasing an experienced half who can easily fit into their system ... er, hang on a sec.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Japanese rugby is massively cashed up. I know a bloke with two sons who had a couple of seasons over there. Both really good but not great shute shield lower grade players. They earned around $200k each per season, they were housed and fed and the season lasted only a dozen games. SJ could earn a packet as I’m sure, being a kiwi he’d have a rugby background. Craig Wing had a long career over there after NRL
Im even hearing Japanese rugby being touted around. Who knows!!!
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Moylan is only been offered low money by the Sharks.I imagine they are after a quality half like Reynolds.I will be extremely disappointed in Fitz if he persists in M Pearce as the answer
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
JVGO the other issue to me is regarding SJ’s replacement .There’s talk the Sharks are going after M Pearce .I don’t see the logic there.Even all those negatives you outlined on SJ ,I’d still prefer him to MP next year
Joey
Guest
Maybe Broncos have another Reece Walsh they are letting go for next year. He was a dime a dozen, after all.
Joey
Guest
Will be interesting to see who they pick up. ie which player ol’ Rusty is in the ear of ? Whichever the choice, you would have to think the team is going to be worse off, not better off, and so join the clubs that get the “rebuilding” tag next year, - those seasons never end well.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
I've heard that Souths are showing interest in Luke Brooks Maybe until Taafe and Illias are NRL ready.
joshua.casaceli
Guest
bad move from the sharks when we took him off last week for ten minutes against the titans we looked hopeless in attack last year he single handedly took us to the finals. considering he only wants 600k and moylan dugan woods arent gonna be here which is 2.3 million in salary cap plus our 300k ban gone its a risk worth taking and pretty much a no brainer very dissapointed in craig fitzgibbon and i also think nicho hynes wont go very well here with moylan and if anything become the next moylan we have signed
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Possibly but i cant see him copping one year when I’m pretty sure he’d get longer elsewhere or even ESL
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Johnson is too big an injury risk ! He has dodgy hammy's & an achillies issue. That's why he has had little consistency in his game in recent years. I'd sign him only on match payments !
Maybe SJ would sign a 1 year contract where Reynolds wouldnt????
Tomas
Guest
Young halves won an u20s premiership in 2019, so they have been seen. What do you suggest, Souths leave out a million or two $$$ of the cap out of team for the rest of the season just to play these young halves now?
JVGO
Guest
As a Sharks fan I think SJ is great but maybe a GF is 3 or 4 years away for us so he probably doesn't fit our timeline. I think either Parra or Souths whose squads time is now would be great for him. Parra are going nowhere in the big games with their halves. But there is his injury worries. He hasn't proven durable enough. I was at the game against Easts he did his achilles. His involvement in the 15 mins lead up to his injury had been intense, he was confident and really pushing himself. Sharks were probably about to score and make a game of it and go into the semis with some momentum. Then kaboom. It's as if his body just couldn't take it. So there is that. But even as a very good game managing half playing within himself he is pretty damn good. His kicking game is pretty close to Reynolds when he's on, maybe not quite as consistent. His passing game is better though.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Why would you let Reynolds leave to recruit SJ? I’m not saying that on his day he isn’t a match winner but thise days only roll around a few times a year in between umpteen injuries
Nat
Roar Guru
Agree, they seem too much alike and Walker is as good as he is because Reynolds controls the play, therefore, the time Walker has. I don't see that from Johnson. Plus, why get rid of a 31yo proven half for a 31yo talented one tat misses far more games? It would be the ultimate slap to Reyno id that was to happen.
Rob
Guest
I think he would be a good fit although I don't understand why the got rid of Reynolds if they plan on signing SJ. They are both the same age and Johnson has been more injury prone than Reynolds has over the last few seasons. Johnson will come a little cheaper but surely paying a little bit extra to keep Reynolds was the better option?
kk
Roar Pro
Johnson's achilles is a huge gamble. No. Dugan is beyond repair. No. Hawkins, Dargan or Taaffe . Great expectations.