Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Shaun Johnson Returns, But First Chad Townsend Returns
Aotearoa Warriors trauma involves consistently bad business. Just like middling seasons and the equal chance of a big lead being given up or a crazy comeback on the cards, the Warriors have a fairly enlightening track record of weird antics that shake things up. This isn't about Shaun Johnson's initial departure being bad business, this is about the move into good business under current leadership.
Johnson's initial departure can easily be viewed as an early marker of good business. This came after Stephen Kearney was brought in as coach and Kearney's arrival resulted in the likes of Tohu Harris coming onboard, as well as Peter O'Sullivan. Even that specific period is a murky ol' section though considering that the Warriors became one of Isaac Moses (weirdo player agent) dumping grounds. The Warriors quickly moved from using their Moses connections to snare some decent players to being at the mercy of Moses - as did Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights.
Good business mixed in with typically strange business. Things seem rather different in 2021 as the signing of Johnson highlights a key factor in sussing the fresh Warriors vibe as the possibility of signing Johnson wasn't blasted all over the media in Aotearoa or more specifically Australia. Note how most of the players the Warriors are linked with in the NRL media do not end up signing, while those under the radar deals get sealed. There is a major difference between what NRL media tells you the Warriors are doing and what the Warriors are actually doing.
Same applies from the Johnson angle as all the NRL media was reporting that he'd likely end up with the Bulldogs, maybe Broncos. Ah the Bulldogs. As middling as the Warriors are and have been, there are various NRL clubs worse off than the Warriors even though the Warriors exist between two countries. Johnson possibly snatched off the Bulldogs, although that's just a rumour.
The Bulldogs are definitely paying a chunk of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's salary. With my Kiwi-NRL goggles on, I've had a chuckle at the Bulldogs paying large for outside backs when they allowed Ngaruawahia's Morgan Harper leave mid-season last year to Sea Eagles and then Reimis Smith left for Melbourne Storm. Both are likely to feature in the next Aotearoa Kiwis squad.
The Bulldogs are definitely out in the media with various players linked to their club. The Warriors are quietly going about their work in filling holes and yesterday morning I wrote in our email that the biggest hole for the Warriors was in the halves; at the NRL level and in the junior ranks. Shout out to our Monday and Friday email banger because in a recent email I wrote this: “What do the Warriors need the most moving forward? A veteran half hmmm.”
Slight brag at the success of a broad statement but stay humble. That is merely to outline the obvious need for a half and the Warriors went about fixing that by quietly signing Chad Townsend for the short-term and SJ7 for the long-term (two years is longish-term in this context). The Warriors had a clear weakness in the halves at the start of the week and without such a half, I was settling down for another dose of middling Warriors before they re-upped in 2022.
Townsend was playing reserve grade at Cronulla Sharks, with little chance that he would play ahead of Johnson and Matt Moylan as they've combined for three consecutive wins. The Warriors want to keep pushing forward this season and that's as notable as their player business, junior pipelines across two countries and investment in making this all happen. That had the Warriors searching for options and Townsend was keen for an NRL gig.
That has been parlayed into Johnson for two seasons. This sets up an enticing wrinkle to keep tabs on as the Warriors have been nifty in plugging the halves hole at the NRL level and the lack of halves depth in the junior pipeline presents the best scouters/recruiters of Aotearoa talent (O'Sullivan and Phil Gould) with an obvious mission of finding halves prospects. The Redcliffe Dolphin collaboration has only featured Sebastyan Jack (Marist Saints) as a half from Aotearoa with Jack starting in the halves for the Under 18 Dolphins (Mal Meninga Cup).
The Dolphins Intrust Super Cup and Hasting-Deering Colts (U21) teams don't have Aotearoa halves. This isn't a negative in any way and I'm loving everything happening in that Warriors/Dolphins collab. There is a gap here moving forward and I'm kinda excited to see what the Warriors come up with as halves prospects.
One thing I've pondered throughout the Blackcaps tour of England is the scattered nature of English cricket (lots and lots of money-chasing cricket) and if you can imagine yourself as an English cricket fan, ask yourself what the ECB is telling you is important? With any sports organisation or corporation you can catch a vibe or assess the moves made and ask yourself what is that organisation telling me is important? Through their actions, these organisations are telling you what they deem as important and it's up to you whether you continue to rock with them or tell them what's important to you through your actions.
(Your actions can be as simple as spending money elsewhere. Actions speak louder than words, so what is the value of complaining when you can lead with action)
The Warriors are speaking to us through their actions. They have invested in the junior pipeline split across two countries. They have done all they can to get a game at Mt Smart for us the fans. They have proven their prowess in getting the best deals and navigating the NRL media landscape. They have told us that they ain't fucking done with the 2020 season by finding a solid short-term halves solution. In signing Johnson the Warriors have told us that the club is bigger than any individual niggle and that the vision of success is clear.
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Peace and love.