Premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk has taken aim at Shaun Johnson, accusing the New Zealand international of "firing blanks" since arriving at the Cronulla Sharks.
Johnson played a key role in helping the Sharks secure their first win over the NRL season against the North Queensland Cowboys, but he hasn't escaped criticism from Cronk.
Playmaker Johnson claimed three try assists in the 26-16 win, but Cronk feels he needs to be more consistent and improve on his decision-making if the Sharks are going to be title contenders this season.
The Sharks lost to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers earlier this season, before finally beating an under-strength Cowboys side.
Johnson, 29, joined the Sharks in December 2018 on a three-year, $1 million per season deal.
"Johnson's the key," Cronk said on Fox Sports. "Johnson won the Golden Boot in 2014, signed with the Sharks on a three-year deal - this is his second - and to be honest he's fired blanks since arriving.
"What sums it up for me is he puts in this kick where he makes the ball torp basically for [Ronaldo] Mulitalo to score the first try. You sit there on the reverse angle and it bends away from the fullback.
"He made the ball torp for Mulitalo's first try, but then when the game's in the balance he goes for a kick for touch from halfway, shanks it, and five minutes later has another kick with the game in the balance and kicks [it dead for] a seven-tackle set.
"He can be the best player in the world but he just doesn't deliver enough for me. Johnson needs to be the star."
Cronk added that Johnson isn't utilising his run-game to full effect, a criticism which was often mentioned during his time at the Warriors.
"It's hard. When you get to the back end of your career you lose your physicality, you don't want to run the football," Cronk said.
"For Shaun to be a threat with short ball or over the top you need to run, otherwise people don't think you're a threat."
Former Cronulla Sharks hooker Michael Ennis agreed with Cronk's remarks about Johnson needing to run the ball more.
Against the Cowboys, Johnson ran just four times, the second lowest in the entire Sharks team for just 45 meters.
"Shaun should of been licking his lips when they made the rule changes," said Ennis, who won the NRL title with the Sharks in 2016.
"When you think of dynamic ballruners, there are none better than Shaun Johnson, but until he's willing to get physical, down and dirty, they're not going to get what they want out of him.
They've got some big decisions to make, the Sharks. They've got a number of high-profile players coming off contract next year, they've obviously had some trouble with the salary cap situation.
"If [coach John Morris] is making the decisions he's got some big ones to make."
Sharks captain Wade Graham defended the playmaker, saying the team is at its best when Johnson is partnering Chad Townsend, who missed the game through injury.
The Sharks have a very easy schedule on the horizon, playing the St George Dragons, Canterbury Bulldogs and Gold Coast Titans in three of their next four games - all winless this season.
