He’s no Johnathan Thurston but Chad Townsend is ready to guide his side to premiership glory

CRONULLA’S Chad Townsend isn’t glamorous, nor is he a legend. His only representative game was with City Origin this year. But he doesn’t care.

Chad Townsend scores a try against the Cowboys. Picture. Brett Costello

THEY have won Dally M Medals, played State of Origins, represented the mighty Kangaroos and even been crowned Immortals.

They are the halo-wearing superstar halfbacks who have masterminded and guided their teams to premiership glory.

The likes of Newcastle’s Andrew Johns, Parramatta great, Peter Sterling, Canterbury icon Steve Mortimer, St George’s Billy Smith, Brisbane magician Allan Langer, Canberra’s Ricky Stuart and, of course, four-time North Queensland Dally M medal winner Johnathan Thurston.

Cronulla’s Chad Townsend isn’t glamorous, nor is he a legend. His only representative game was with City Origin this year. But he doesn’t care.

And despite being hooked by coach Shane Flanagan in Cronulla’s first final almost three weeks ago, the Sharks wouldn’t swap him.

STAT ATTACK: Grand final weaknesses

Chad Townsend gets a selfie with a young fan during a NRL fan Day at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Picture: Gregg Porteous

He may not be a big name but he will have a big influence on Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne where he will face another modern-day great in Cooper Cronk.

And given his performance to eliminate Thurston and defending champions the Cowboys last week was calm, cool and composed, Townsend isn’t fussed about not yet being considered in the elite class of halfbacks.

“I don’t really care to be honest. It doesn’t worry me at all,” Townsend said.

“You just have to be a really good team. If we play as a team and we all do our job, it will give us the best chance of winning on the weekend.

“For me, it’s about me doing my job. If I do my job, I know I can contribute to the result. I have done my job for the majority of the year, running things as Flanno wants it.

“I can’t wait for it. It’s a bit surreal actually. It didn’t sink in after the game. You dream of playing in a grand final when you’re a young fellow. I’m very excited.”

Townsend knows his status in rugby league will be elevated considerably if he can in fact help Cronulla win.

Chad Townsend and Michael Ennis hug after the NRL preliminary final.

“I hope so. It would mean a lot to me. In my opinion, it is the pinnacle of the game to win an NRL competition,” he said. “It’s such a hard, contested competition throughout the 26 weeks. You are with these boys nearly every day for a good 10, 11 months of the year.

“They mean quite a lot to me. To have the opportunity to play a grand final with them and win one, it would definitely mean a lot.”

With Todd Carney and Jeff Robson established at Cronulla, Townsend left the Sharks after 2013 before having two successful seasons with the New Zealand Warriors. He returned this year a mature and rounded halfback.

“I left Cronulla on really good terms,” he said. “For me, it was about searching for an opportunity. I had a stable halves combination in front of me (Todd Carney and Jeff Robson). I thought I could play NRL week in, week out and I thought it was time for me to move on and the Warriors offered me that. They offered me a chance although I was never guaranteed a spot in the halves.

Chad Townsend scores a try against the Cowboys.

“I grew and matured over there from living in a different country and different coaching.”

Pretty soon though Townsend was back in the Shire.

“I came back. My girlfriend (Marissa Sorensen), her mother has bowel cancer, she hasn’t had the best year and we just wanted to be back and be closer to her. To be able to support her and go and see her. Help her through her journey. It’s definitely been the right decision.”