Chad Townsend’s move to the Sydney Roosters has raised several eyebrows, including Andrew Johns, who was “really surprised” by the deal.
The club stated this week that Townsend will join Bondi in 2025 on a one-year contract, most likely as a backup to rising talents Sam Walker and Sandon Smith.
Townsend is a premiership-winning playmaker with extensive NRL experience, but he has little chance of replacing Walker in the No.7 jersey at full strength.
Smith, on the other hand, is a quality utility player who came up through the junior ranks as a halfback and is slated to replace Luke Keary at five-eighth next year.
Townsend’s anticipated arrival has divided opinion in rugby league circles, but according to Johns, the concept that the 33-year-old is joining the Tricolours to “mentor” the in-form Walker is bizarre.
“I was really surprised,” he stated on the Wide World of Sports show Immortal Behaviour.
“I’ve heard that he’ll be mentoring Sam Walker and Sandon Smith.
“Sam Walker does not require mentoring. He needs the opposite approach; simply leave him alone and let him play. He’s a free spirit; you can’t cram too much stuff into Sam’s mind.
“Sandon Smith may be different – I don’t know Sandon, and I’m not sure what makes him tick – but the club already has Cooper Cronk and Mitchell Pearce.”
“I was really surprised, but I suppose it gives you back-up.”
Townsend is anticipated to make roughly $300,000 at the Chooks next season, following three years with the Cowboys on a far larger salary.
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According to Johns, the new-look Roosters attack will be another setback for Townsend’s chances of playing first grade when he gets at the club in 2025.
“He’s playing reserve grade, he’s not playing first grade if they are all fit,” according to Johns.
“Sam Walker is an on-ball halfback, much like an old-fashioned halfback. They’ve modified the way they play. Victor Radley used to be a halfback, but with Naufahu Whyte in the middle, he’s now just a runner.
“Sam requires a running five-eighth… Chad Townsend was unable to play five-eighth outside Sam Walker. I was taken aback; it was completely unexpected.
“It’s a bit of back-up for Sam, but I couldn’t see them playing together.”
Walker’s contract issue remains a heated topic, with the 22-year-old due to leave the Roosters in November if he is not re-signed.
Brisbane has been identified as a potential destination for Walker if he decides to leave the Chooks, particularly considering Adam Reynolds’ expected retirement next year.
