New Warrior escapes Sharks ‘circus’
Busting run: Sione Lausi takes the ball up during the Warriors NRL v Warriors NSW trial at Bruce Pulman Park in Papakurra yesterday. NEW Warriors signing Jonathan Wright is relieved to have a fresh start after a year from hell at the Sharks, where players couldn’t face turning up to training.
The Cronulla club was embroiled in Asada’s investigation into performanceenhancing drugs last season, which resulted in coach Shane Flanagan being stood down and senior players suspended. Not surprisingly, they won just five matches and took the wooden spoon while staying in the media spotlight.
Wright is thankful to be away from such a toxic environment.
‘‘It was pretty tough: blokes didn’t want to go to training, everyone was down and you couldn’t prepare for a game or even for training,’’ Wright told Sunday News. ‘‘Then it took its toll on some blokes’ personal lives, so it was very tough.
‘‘When this opportunity came up, to get away from that circus, I jumped at the chance to come over here and start enjoying my footy again, which I am.’’
Wright played 17 games for the Sharks last year and is in a congested battle with Ngani Laumape, Solomone Kata, Dominique Peyroux, Matt Allwood and David Fusitu’a for one of the centre spots this season, while Konrad Hurrell locked in for the other.
He’ll have to watch from his couch when the Warriors play their first game of the season, against the Knights on March 7, because he picked up a three- game suspension towards the end of last season for a dangerous throw in the Sharks’ loss to the Raiders.
Wright, who played for the Bulldogs in their 2012 Grand Final loss to the Storm, sat out the last two games of the 2014 season and carried the ban over to this year.
‘‘I couldn’t play in any [external] trial matches or in the Nines and I missed out on getting voted for the All Stars Indigenous team,’’ he said.
‘‘But it is what it is and I can’t do anything about it.
‘‘My frustration went an hour after I found out. The boys know they’ve got a big game coming up, they’ll rip into that and I’ll prepare myself to play in round two, no matter what team it’s for and I’ll enjoy my footy again.’’