‘I’m confident with my game’: Townsend hits back at Cronulla’s critics

Playmaker Chad Townsend says he isn’t paying attention to Cronulla’s critics as he attempts to salvage the struggling Sharks’ season.

Townsend is bound for North Queensland at the season’s end. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Sharks halfback Chad Townsend rode the highest of highs when he helped the club win its maiden premiership in 2016, but he admits this year has been full of challenges as he deals with losses, a coaching change, new rules and an impending move north.

Much was made of his big-money deal to join the Cowboys next season, but the veteran playmaker has blocked that out as he tries to salvage Cronulla’s season after his golden point field goal helped snap a six-game losing streak.

“I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but it’s been different,” he said in the sheds after the win over the Dragons.

“It’s been a bit different, and I think losing exacerbates that, but I just try to stay on the things that work for me. I try to compete as hard as I can and stay on my preparation and my routine for games.

“We haven’t had those wins and that emphasises that point, but I’m confident with my game and what I can bring to the team and I’ll continue to focus on myself.

“I don’t really read into the commentary or what fans say about me. I’ve been around this game long enough to know that the only things that matter to me is how I prepare and my teammates, because I want to do the best for them as well.”

Townsend’s boot proved the difference in Friday night’s local derby. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

That attitude has defined Townsend this year as he’s embraced his role as organiser while the likes of Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson have been given the freedom to play what’s in front of them.

The halves merry-go-round hasn’t been the smoothest ride as the team looks to find the balance under interim coach Josh Hannay, but it’s something Townsend may have to get used to when he joins the Cowboys.

The club recently poached Tom Dearden from the Broncos and then re-signed Scott Drinkwater, muddying the waters as to who would actually play in the halves next season.

But that’s an issue for another day, with Townsend keen to make it clear that his focus is on seeing out his second stint with the club he idolised from the time he was a kid.

“I watch pretty much every game of footy, so I’ve watched most of their games this year,” he said of the Cowboys.

“I do want to make it clear that my focus is on being a Shark for the next five months. I want to finish my time here on good terms because I’ve had a good time here.”

While the move north is on the horizon, Townsend and the game have bigger fish to fry as everyone tries to work out the new head high interpretations.

The Sharks half was sensationally penalised for a tackle on Cody Walker at Magic Round that left fans, commentators and fellow players stunned as the Bunker chimed in at the end of the set to bring play back for an alleged crusher tackle.

It killed Cronulla’s momentum and left Townsend and everyone else fuming, and he says the game must find a middle ground between physicality and safety after a confusing start to the crackdown.

“Last week, the game was so stop-start,” he said.

“There were so many penalties and so many stoppages with the video ref intervening and then going back plays for penalties. That definitely slows the game down, and sometimes you don’t know what’s going on and you just watch the ref to see what his decision is and move on with it.”