Shaun Johnson reveals brutally honest chat with coach John Morris
Sharks star Shaun Johnson has opened up on a conversation with coach John Morris about being dropped for Kyle Flangan, where the Kiwi gun insisted he knew he was the best No. 6 in Cronulla.
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Cronulla superstar Shaun Johnson has revealed he spoke with coach John Morris about potentially being dropped for Shire young gun Kyle Flanagan, despite being adamant he remains the "best No. 6 at this club".
Only 24 hours after eighth Immortal Andrew Johns questioned Johnson's NRL spot, the New Zealand Test ace was the undeniable Thursday Night Football star against North Queensland, orchestrating two tries including the match-winner.
Quizzed afterwards on the growing talk he be dropped for 20-year-old Flanagan, who has performed strongly when Johnson was sidelined with injury, the $3 million import insisted he deserved his place in first grade.
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The five-eighth added, however, that he had not only broached the issue with his coach, but told Morris that if he were dropped, he would support that decision “100 per cent”.
“I’ve always believed I’m the best number six at this club,” Johnson said.
“But Flanno was playing awesome footy, the team was winning … so I’m open to (being dropped), bro.
“I’m no different to anyone else.
“If Bomber (coach Morris) said that was the best thing for the team, I’d be like 100 per cent, I’m with you.
“I have no qualms about that.
“But do I think I deserve to be dropped? No.
“While my game hasn’t been where I’d like it to be, I don’t think I’ve been as bad as everyone is saying. And I still believe I’m the best fit for this team.
“But again, if that was the way it was going to happen, I’ve had that conversation with Bomber.
“If they see me as the right fit awesome. If not, I’m doing whatever I can to prove that I am that person.”
Despite receiving plenty of criticism this year, Johnson stressed it had no impact on his game saying: “Why would I listen to criticism from people I wouldn’t even seek advice from?”.
Apart from orchestrating two tries against the Cowboys — and having a third assist controversially ruled forward — Johnson also ran for 107m, made 21 tackles, missed none and was 11 from 11 in high kick finishes.
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Afterwards, he was asked if the ongoing criticism was unfair?
“I don’t think it’s unfair, no,” he said. “I’m very lucky that I can do things a lot of other halves in the game can’t … and people know what I can do.
“But at the same time, people always say ‘oh, he just needs to run the ball. Don’t think about anything else, just step and run’.
“But I’m trying to manage a game, trying to finish sets well and do everything a half does. I’m doing things that say, Chaddy Townsend is doing.
“But if I don’t run, it’s like a bigger thing because people know I can run.”
Later, he added: “For me, it’s never about the individual performance. Never.
“I know people need a headline and will probably say Shaun Johnson played amazing tonight, blah, blah, blah. But it shouldn’t be like that.
“It should be Cronulla ground out a win. That’s how I view it.
“I hope the headline tomorrow has nothing to do with me.
“And I get that I’m in a position where you have to wear that. I’m not the only one, there are other players in our game that have done the same.
“But I just feel you win as a team, lose as a team. It would be cool if that was the headline.”
Originally published as Shaun Johnson reveals brutally honest chat with coach John Morris
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