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Gone! Shaun Johnson released by Warriors as club sends out scathing email - 'everything we do is about the club first'

November 28, 2018
NRL Rugby League, North Queensland Cowboys v Vodafone Warriors, 1300Smiles Stadium, Townsville, Australia. Saturday 20 August 2016.  Warriors Shaun Johnson after the loss to the Cowboys. © Copyright Photo: Zak Simmonds / www.Photosport.nz

The Warriors have released star halfback Shaun Johnson from the final year of his contract.  

CEO Cameron George said in a statement today Johnson is free agent "effective immediately".

"Yesterday (head coach) Stephen Kearney, (recruitment manager) Peter O’Sullivan and I met with Shaun and his manager Peter Brown," George said in a statement.

"During the meeting Shaun clearly demonstrated to us that he didn’t want to be at the club in 2019.

"On the basis of what Shaun told us, we are not going to compromise our culture on and off the field with people who do not wish to represent our club, members and fans in the way we expect.

"Everything we do is about the club being first and what's best for our future, our development and ultimately our results.

"While it's disappointing it has come to this, we must acknowledge the contribution Shaun has made to the Vodafone Warriors. We're proud of what he has achieved at the club and wish him all the best for the future."

Relationship between Johnson and Warriors management disintegrates

The relationship between the Kiwi NRL club and the 28-year-old has deteriorated in the past month after George revealed in October the Warriors were in "no rush" to re-sign him after his current deal, worth $1 million a season, ended in 2019.

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The stance was revealed while Johnson was away on international duties with the Kiwis in England, meaning the situation couldn't be properly addressed until he returned to New Zealand.

Things accelerated on Tuesday when Johnson finally broke his silence on the matter, taking to social media to vent his frustrations.

"Firstly there is no contract for me to sign past 2019," Johnson began.

"Secondly if you saw the article that came out a few weeks back. In a round about way they said they are in no rush to re-sign me.

"Since then they have told me again at this stage they won't be offering me anything."

Johnson then met with club officials for the first time yesterday where he reportedly requested to be released from the final year of his deal to pursue other options - a request the club reportedly declined at the time but has since changed their mind.

Johnson played 162 games for the Warriors after debuting in Round 13 against the Sydney Roosters in 2011.

He has since gone on to become the club's top point-scorer with 919 - the next closest is club legend Stacey Jones on 674.

He also won the coveted Golden Boot Award in 2014.

But in his time at the club, fans and critics have constantly challenged his form, more so in recent years as his experience grew but his consistency didn't.

While Johnson's next destination is yet to be confirmed, Nine's The Mole reports the Cronulla Sharks are the frontrunners for Johnson's signature.

The Sharks are reportedly ready to make a move for Johnson, with money now at their disposal following the shock departure of Valentine Holmes to the NFL.

The report says the club would likely move Matt Moylan to fullback which leaves a vacancy in the halves to team up with Chad Townsend and while the club has rookie Kyle Flanagan in the wings, the son of coach Shane Flanagan "isn't ready" for a full NRL season.

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