Warriors football boss Brian Smith says the club were surprised by Shaun Johnson's demand for a contract release but believes the Kiwi international's exit has provided the Auckland-based NRL club with a silver lining.
Speaking on the
Radio Sport Breakfast Wednesday morning, Smith was grilled over the Warriors
handling of events that led to Johnson wanting out of the final year of his million dollar contract last week, before the star playmaker
signed with Cronulla on a three-year deal.
Smith attempted to shed more light on the saga that has divided NRL fans and critics on both sides of the Tasman, and reiterated the club's stance that Johnson ignored the opportunity to discuss options for the future, after the Warriors initially declined to make an offer to extend his contract and informed his agent that he was free to test his value on the open market.
"We didn't expect [Johnson's demand for a release] for a response to what we were hoping was going to be a discussion about the future with him," Smith told
Radio Sport.
"We didn't really establish [Johnson's worth] because Shaun was in a position where he could have done that."
The
Herald reported last month that Johnson's inconsistent performances had raised doubts over whether he was providing the Warriors with value for money, after he re-signed with the club last season on a two-year seven-figure contract.
Smith hinted the mercurial No 7's hot-and-cold form was behind the club's hesitancy to table a new offer.
Sources from both camps have confirmed during last week's fateful meeting, Johnson declared he wanted to leave the Warriors immediately, rather than attempt to find middle ground or discuss parameters for an acceptable pay-cut.
"So we didn't establish [what he was worth]. I can't say to you whether it was a million, or half a million. The process, Shaun took control of what he wanted to do and we didn't get that far."
Smith refused to detail the qualities in Johnson's play or training ethic that the club was dissatisfied with, saying it would be "churlish" for him to do so.
However, he intimated the Warriors could have been persuaded to show more enthusiasm towards re-signing Johnson, if he had been open to discussing areas in which he could grow, and demonstrated a willingness and determination to work on improving his game.
"I think it's fair to say that there is no such thing as the complete player. Everybody is the game is always looking for improvement.
"Those are the sorts of things that we wanted to talk to Shaun about."
Meanwhile, Kearney is satisfied with the progress made by the club's emerging halves - Chanel Harris-Tavita, Hayze Perham, Paul Turner and Penrith recruit Adam Keighran – over the first month of pre-season training.
Whether a future first grade halves combination is born out of those stocks in time for next season, or the club spends money on attracting new talent, Smith is confident the Warriors are well placed to find stability and achieve success going forward.
"It is a big thing that's happened, but it's also provided us with a fantastic opportunity with a large chunk of money to be able to put ourselves in a position where we can be very stable over the next three to five years.
"And in that period of time, we certainly want to get ourselves into a position where we can win the competition.
"We need to make great decisions in the next little while about how we go about what we do. And we're not going to be rushed."
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