Is Shaun Johnson Ready??

[shiznit]

Watched him in the u20's... he looked wonderfully composed for a young kid.

showed exactly the type of leadership i was expecting from Stacey Jones.

His Kicking game is just flawless... its been a long time since ive said that about a warriors half.

but the question here is if hes ready to make the big step up...

would he still poses that wonderful composure up in the top grade... where its a lot faster and the play makers have a lot less time.

im of the school of thought that if your good enough... your old enough...

is he good enough??

 

[Dr Crane]

can't be worse than our current #7

 

[One Warrior]

Jones was good today, best all round game this year, setup both tries. If you bring Johnson in put him at 6, personally I think it is too soon for him, Heremaia worth a try at 6 or Hohaia.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

For the 50th time this year, no he's not ready for first grade. Has all the attacking skills and his short kicking is fantastic (long kicking needs work) but defensively frail and his body is still adjusting to the extra weight he's had to put on over the past year.

Even 2010 will probably be too early, but I can see him being given some minutes off the bench in 2010.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

For the 50th time this year, no he's not ready for first grade. Has all the attacking skills and his short kicking is fantastic (long kicking needs work) but defensively frail and his body is still adjusting to the extra weight he's had to put on over the past year.

Even 2010 will probably be too early, but I can see him being given some minutes off the bench in 2010.

He did play at extremely well - he slowly becoming a league player as opposed to a touch player playing league.

He is improving very fast and obviously put in heaps of effort.

But remember aboriginal standoff from doggies - absolutely dominated NYC and physically struggled at NRL level - no so many weak links in defense to take advantage off. Cant even remember his name right now lol.

Even during the u18s npc last year he struggled defensively.

 

[Scorpio30]

He'd be a speed bump.

 

[Scorpio30]

He did play at extremely well - he slowly becoming a league player as opposed to a touch player playing league.

He is improving very fast and obviously put in heaps of effort.

But remember aboriginal standoff from doggies - absolutely dominated NYC and physically struggled at NRL level - no so many weak links in defense to take advantage off. Cant even remember his name right now lol.

Even during the u18s npc last year he struggled defensively.

Aaron Barba

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Aaron Barba

Ben Barba - not a bad player really at all.

Still get fustrated watching Johnson play - apart from Today.

He always looking to look good - and straight touch player - sort of benji marshall on steriods ( in regards to the negatives of a young benji).

 

[African Monkey]

The guy looked awesome today. Get him in the side for next week. Last year we did it with Sandow and it worked even though the guy is way out of form atm but get the guy in there now instead of waiting for him to reach a certain age.

 

[Scorpio30]

Ben Barba - not a bad player really at all.

Still get fustrated watching Johnson play - apart from Today.

He always looking to look good - and straight touch player - sort of benji marshall on steriods ( in regards to the negatives of a young benji).

Oh yeah, Aaron is Bens older brother, scored about 47,000 tries in the Qld cup but couldnt quite make it in 1st grade. Penrith I think.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

He did play at extremely well - he slowly becoming a league player as opposed to a touch player playing league.

He is improving very fast and obviously put in heaps of effort.

But remember aboriginal standoff from doggies - absolutely dominated NYC and physically struggled at NRL level - no so many weak links in defense to take advantage off. Cant even remember his name right now lol.

Even during the u18s npc last year he struggled defensively.

That's my opinion of him too, especially when it comes to defense, and even when he makes a break he often jumps backwards and pauses while deciding which option to take ala touch.

I have been impressed with how fast he's learning though. First 4-5 games he would go out of his way to avoid making tackles as if he were scared, but at least now he's willing tohave a genuine go. Very encouraging. Not first grade quality yet, but he's improving.

I actually think that's half the problem with a lot of young kiwi league players. Gavet is another one who has raw potential but only took up league when he signed with the Warriors. Matulino and Mannering are similar with a year of league under their belts before they entered the fray.

Physically the switch isn't a problem, but it takes time to develop the mental side of the game when converting with union. Looking at a lot of our nz players I can't help but think how much better some of them would be if they'd taken up league from an early age.

It's important for the Warriors to try and identify these kids earlier and get them developing sooner. Then perhaps we'll have more guys like Locke who seem to handle the transition smoothly.

 

[Rich102]

Ben Barba - not a bad player really at all.

Still get fustrated watching Johnson play - apart from Today.

He always looking to look good - and straight touch player - sort of benji marshall on steriods ( in regards to the negatives of a young benji).

They need Ali Baba to get them out of the hole they're in!:lol:

 

[Rich102]

That's my opinion of him too, especially when it comes to defense, and even when he makes a break he often jumps backwards and pauses while deciding which option to take ala touch.

I have been impressed with how fast he's learning though. First 4-5 games he would go out of his way to avoid making tackles as if he were scared, but at least now he's willing tohave a genuine go. Very encouraging. Not first grade quality yet, but he's improving.

I actually think that's half the problem with a lot of young kiwi league players. Gavet is another one who has raw potential but only took up league when he signed with the Warriors. Matulino and Mannering are similar with a year of league under their belts before they entered the fray.

Physically the switch isn't a problem, but it takes time to develop the mental side of the game when converting with union. Looking at a lot of our nz players I can't help but think how much better some of them would be if they'd taken up league from an early age.

It's important for the Warriors to try and identify these kids earlier and get them developing sooner. Then perhaps we'll have more guys like Locke who seem to handle the transition smoothly.

I think you have hit the nail on the head.
The team is going out confused and unsettled. Too many players playing out of their natural positions. In the wrong headspace.

Every so often they fire up, throw caution to the winds and look like a football team.

At least with the juniors you can see their game plan. With the seniors very rarely is there any organised attack. In fact their total attack seems to rely on two words: kick and Manu.

I would like to see a bit of fire in one of the players. It may spread.

 

[doogiehowser_md]

Ofcourse he's ready! He's a confident player, look at Karmichael Hunt, a lot of people said he was too young and not ready. A few weeks after his debut the Kiwis wanted him in their side.

If they are adamant on not selecting Fein, then Johnson has to be tossed in the side, even on the bench, to be brought on when Jones is sucking in the fat ones.

Wheres Foran? I don't think Heremaia is the future in the halves.

 

[Meth]

Wheres Foran? I don't think Heremaia is the future in the halves.

Why not?

A few nice touches on Sunday

 

[Rich102]

I think the biggest hurdle for Johnson would be not having a settled No6 in place.
He has all the skills and is going to be a star, perhaps just not yet.

What's up with O'Regan? He got called up then dropped.

 

[doogiehowser_md]

Why not?

A few nice touches on Sunday

He's 26 and didn't set the world on fire in Australia nor in the UK. He comes here has a few nices touches which is great. But the halves are like one the most important areas in a team. He hasn't wow'd me and thats what you sort of expect from your halves if your team has any chance of winning a title.

Look at the Top 4 teams halves

Hornby & Soward
Kimmorley & Roberts
Wallace & Lockyer
Cronk & Finch

All players have had pretty big wraps on them definately before the age of 26.

Heremaia maybe a player who can provide a few nice touches here and there, but I definately wouldn't be counting on him to be 1 half of the halves to guide the Warriors to a title.

 

[doogiehowser_md]

I think the biggest hurdle for Johnson would be not having a settled No6 in place.

Well next year could possibly be worse! Why not chuck him now with Stacey (while he's there) and he can learn the way Benji did with Scott Prince at the Tigers

 

[Micistm]

Desperate times...a few of the struggling other sides have gambled on the young players and it's paid off.
I'd be happy to give the guy a game after the upcoming break with the 2pts, see what he can do, off the bench or whatever. For this game vs the Knights we need those two points before the bye, and IMO it's unfair to throw the young guy in for that pressure.
But I would like to see some changes- Lance starting-he seems the best attacker ATM, Jones off the bench, Ropati needs to be dropped for a couple to get his headspace right again. This weeks team will be very interesting.

 

[shiznit]

so the consensus is that probably defensively he needs abit more work...

fair enough... just on the back of his performance on the weekend.. he was REALLY impressive.