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Cronulla Sharks back Chad Townsend despite shock benching
DAVID RICCIO, The Daily Telegraph
September 12, 2016 9:10am
CRONULLA players have declared Chad Townsend will be reinstated as the club’s chief playmaker in their preliminary final despite being a shock replacement against Canberra on Saturday night.
Producing the bravest call of his eight-year NRL coaching career, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan pulled Townsend from GIO Stadium with 20 minutes remaining and trailing 14-12, shifting Jack Bird into the halves and bench player Gerard Beale to centre.
The courageous call ultimately paid dividends, with the Sharks winning 16-14 and booking a preliminary final date with either North Queensland or Brisbane.
The Sharks are attempting to appear in their first grand final since their Super League decider defeat to the Broncos in 1997.
Chad Townsend of the Sharks watches on from the bench.
The form of Townsend, who returned to the Sharks this year after a two-year stint in New Zealand, has dipped over the past month following a stellar start to the season which included a debut City Origin jumper.
On Saturday night, Townsend managed just one run for 14 metres, well down on his season average per game of five runs for 42 metres, while he also came up with a crucial turnover in the second-half when the Sharks were desperate to build momentum.
Townsend, one of Cronulla’s most meticulous players as far as preparation goes, was visibly disappointed as he left the field and he was also shielded from the press post-match in Canberra.
His teammates came to his defence, declaring they wanted the 25-year-old to steer them around in their first preliminary final since 2008.
“He’s been our halfback all year, he’ll be our halfback next week,’’ vice-captain Wade Graham said.
Chad Townsend had a match to forget.
“It was just the way that this game (against the Raiders) panned out.
“No one likes coming off in these games and if Flanno took me off, I’d probably be filthy too.
“But sometimes Flanno has to make a call and it came off for us tonight, but I’m sure once we get there in two weeks, Chad will be the man.’’
Hooker Michael Ennis added on Triple M: “He’s a big part of our side and he’ll certainly be there in a fortnight time.
“But just in the context of that last 15 minutes, it’s what Flanno felt best and Chad is a great kid and you know he would do whatever is best for the team to get us that result.
“He’ll be sweet.’’
Interestingly, fullback Ben Barba said the Sharks weren’t as fluent in attack with Townsend off the field.
“Myself and Jimmy (Maloney) were just talking about it in the shower, even though (Jack) Birdy is a great ball runner, we sort of lost that connection there, when we had the chances down on their (Raiders) line.
“I was looking around there for a bit and Birdy was obviously so hungry to get the ball, he probably lost focus that he was playing in the halves.
“I’m sure (Townsend) will bounce back. Myself and Jimmy have already had a chat to him and said he’s got us to where we are and I’m sure he’ll bounce back.
“I told him it gave him a bit of extra rest for two weeks, so he can come out firing.’’
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