Apparently he was forced out.
Maybe the staff didn't like the fact he never tied his hair up.
He was a good player at his peak. Good luck at the Knights.
Interesting to read that. I thought releasing him was pretty odd at the time considering he was still probably in our top 17 at the time. Maybe the resigning of Luke blew the salary cap out and we needed to let him go?
If somebody has to go it pays not to be a potential target, he should know that. I wonder if they would have kept him if they knew about SJ? Just saying like.
If that is the case good call.
Must be tempting to do what Lousi did and just play out the contract. One year in reserve grade probably wouldn’t have affected his career that much. Newcastle’s offer must have been not too bad.
Doesn't this pretty much happen at every club? If his contract made him expendable and he wasn't doing all the right things then that's just the way this business goes.
JaggedJ nailed it: It's a business. If it suits the club to end things early, it allows the player to present himself as a victim. If it suits the player to end things early, it allows the club to present themselves as a victim. If they choose.
If the club is to be beleved money isnt the reason the club decided to move him on.
The only thing to say to a player who repearedly breaches protocols is goodbye. That applies to elite professional sport and your local Sunday afternoon darts team.
I like James as a player and human being and wish him all the best in the future.
I’m amazed all the fans that were upset that Johnson didn’t see out his contract aren’t flooding this thread with disgust at the club for doing the same thing to one of its players.
I don't really agree ethically with the whole : we will back end your contract and then dump you before we pay you what you thought was rightfully yours.
I hope he is making enough at the knights.
This whole ' it's a business ' thing doesn't really cut it. People unfortunately aren't just numbers and loyalty has to count somewhere.
The article says the Warriors recruited a few players and also upgraded contracts so he was forced out. Besides Lesson Ah Mau who was signed pretty early the others were signed after the season had completed. I assume they arrived before Gavet left.
Management were saying the cap was tight towards the end of last year. It didn't seem like they were over as they could sign 1-2 fringe players which they did. A number of clubs seem to sign players and go over the cap for the following year and then work through releasing guys they don't want which would be good if the NRL could tighten up on.
We also don't know if this was misinterpreted. He may have turned up late a few times or there may have been another issue off the field. He may have been told he'd start in reserve grade which may have been interpreted as I'll be playing reserve grade.
It was good to see him turn his career around here. We get ridiculed for guys form falling off when they come here. He came here got himself in shape, earned a contract and become a regular first grader.
It would of been good to still have him here. He is going to a club that looks to be on the rise.
Was there a few weeks ago transitioning some Kiwi boys into Knights development system and feedback on him is pretty impressive.
Bully being retained was the tipping point for ousting Jimmy, not the discipline issues. That was spin. In any event it's all a bit too late now. Warriors reneged on year 2 of his contract as well, forced on him by Smith and O'Sullivan because they didn't see him in their plans moving forward.
From all accounts he's been embraced by Newcastle and now buddying up with Klem a former teammate from the Dogs. Hes also now a member now of their leadership playing group and the younger Pacific boys are really responding well so I was told.
Reuniting with Balen Couples too has been a revelation.
Lol, he gets paid regardless of NRL or reserve grade.
Ask Mt Wellington, he repeatedly breached protocol and got the boot.
Too preoccupied with his hair than this game. Harsh but fair.
Good luck to him at the Knights.