Johnson: ‘It never was about the money’
SHAUN Johnson took a sixfigure pay cut to join Cronulla for a shot at winning an elusive NRL premiership.
Johnson yesterday revealed the staggering contrast of inclusiveness at Cronulla compared to years of being “left out” of all discussions about the Warriors’ playing roster.
The former Golden Boot winner conceded there was hurt over how the Warriors hierarchy orchestrated his ugly and premature release after eight years at the club, but he would easily “move on”.
“People want to talk about why they believe I left, ‘because he’s chasing the money, or had a sook and wanted out’,’’ Johnson said yesterday.
He said the “easy thing’’ would have been to stay at the Warriors for the final year of his contract and join the Roosters after Cooper Cronk retired at the end of 2019.
“I was on a good wicket next year,’’ Johnson said.
“That’s probably been the most frustrating thing. If it was about money, you just stay.
“But it’s about feeling valued and like you can add something and feeling like you can improve as a player.
“And ultimately, I didn’t feel that if I had stayed next year.
“I’ve been there a while so it’s going to hurt. But at the end of the day, I know I gave everything I had.’’
Johnson and coach Stephen Kearney had major issues over the past two years.
“I’ve been there eight years and had six coaches,’’ Johnson said. “The sixth coach didn’t like me. So what.
“I rode the tough times. I tried to keep fans engaged, I tried to play a style that got kids excited every week.”