Kearney’s cool with Johnson

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has broken his silence on the departure of Shaun Johnson to the Sharks.

In front of a large media scrum at training yesterday, Kearney was reluctant to talk about the circumstances that led to the departure of the team’s big money halfback, but he did address a comment made by Johnson to Sydney media last week.

Johnson said he felt Kearney didn’t like him and their relationship was strained.

‘‘I’ve been there eight years and had six coaches,’’ Johnson said.

‘‘The sixth coach didn’t like me, so what?’’

However, Kearney said he never had any issues with the erratic playmaker.

‘‘I’ve got no problem with Shaun,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘I heard about that comment on the weekend and I can honestly say, after spending close to 20 test matches working with him and certainly at close quarters over the last two years, and we’ve got a pretty comprehensive review process at season’s end, with not only myself but other senior management at the club, and I’ve got an open door in the football area.

‘‘And the first time I heard about that was two weeks ago following a request for a release.

‘‘So it came as news to me but again, I’ve been around the business long enough to know that happens. It’s unfortunate but it happens and we all move on.’’

Johnson was clearly upset with the Warriors and being told that at this point they weren’t going to offer him a contract beyond next year.

Unwilling to be in a situation where he would be playing for his long-term future at the club, Johnson asked for a release.

Kearney said he had been up front with Johnson about what the club was thinking.

‘‘I rang Shaun while he was away on tour with the Kiwis and made it very clear that we were committed to Shaun in 2019,’’ he said.

‘‘He had a contract with the footy club.

‘‘However, I was going to help him be better at his job. I was committed to making sure that happened.

‘‘What’s transpired, transpired. I’m getting tired of saying we all move on.

‘‘I don’t want to go into the details of it all. The facts are we’ve parted ways,’’ he added.

‘‘I think it’s really important that we remind ourselves of the contribution that he made to our footy club.

‘‘I think it was close to 162 games and he’s provided a great deal of highlights to our members and fans, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.

‘‘Amongst all of the carry-on that’s been out there, that should be remembered.

‘‘It’s really important we do that. As a footy club, we wish him well.’’

The club is likely to sign someone who can play in the halves next season, but it is also keen on seeing how Chanel Harris-Tavita, Adam Keighran, Paul Turner and Hayze Perham go during the preseason.

‘‘That’s a process that we’re working through,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘What we know is that the next recruitment decision that we make, they’re really important ones and we’re not going to be panicked into making any rash decisions.’’