Johnson backed by Fifita to come good

ANDREW Fifita has denied five-eighth Shaun Johnson is struggling to fit in at Cronulla but conceded the marquee recruit was still trying to find his feet.

Sharks coach John Morris’s decision to hook Johnson with his side trailing by two points with four minutes remaining against the Broncos last Sunday led to speculation that the mercurial Kiwis half was on his way out of the Shire.

Cronulla forward Fifita believes it will take time for Johnson to build combinations given he missed six weeks with a hamstring injury

“He’s one of those players that needs to find his groove in the team but when he does bounce back all the hype will be back about Shaun Johnson,” Fifita said.

“Until then he’s trying to figure out his place in the team. He was with the Warriors for years and he knew every single player inside and out.

“He’s still growing into that person at this club. It took Matt Moylan eight or nine rounds last year to get humming but Shauny has been in and out the team this year.”

Morris wants Johnson to run the ball more but Fifita said the playmaker needs to figure out how his off-the-cuff playing style fits in with Cronulla’s systems first.

Fifita, who makes a welcome return from a threeweek suspension today against the Storm in Melbourne, also hit back at suggestions Johnson was struggling to fit in with the culture of the Shire club.

“No way in the world is that true, there’s no ego with him at all,” Fifita said.

“You talk about ultimate teammates, Shauny is that person. He is always first in to training with a smile and he’s always upbeat.

“He’s one of the guys who gives back the most to the younger players in the team.”

Even Fifita’s children have warmed to the new recruit, so much so, they now prefer to wear Johnson’s jersey over his.