3, 2, 1 v Rooster

[Iafeta]

I didn't tape it, but on first look I thought that in the 34min when we kicked the ball and Minicello ran it back, it looked like the hole he ran into was created by one of our chasers being jersey-pulled. If that was the case we should have had a penalty and been pressing their line rather than what happened in the last 5 of the first half.

Noticed that. Was a shepherd. The Roosters bloke ran back to get back in the line pushing a Warrior out of a hole, Minichiello took the gap.

 

[Iafeta]

Maybe this was a bit cryptic. I was not bagging Johnson. He had a solid game in conditions that didn't suit him.
I was more questioning where is fits into Ivan's picture.
Seymour's contract hasn't, at this time, been extended. Does this mean he won't be signed? I have been a critic of his, I think he is very slow for a half, but I can see why Ivan likes him. His defence is good, his kicking is solid, he doesn't make many mistakes and his combination with maloney is good.
So was Johnson coming in for an injured Seymour as a long-awaited trial or is this an indication of the future?
I have seen a fair bit of Shaun with the U20's over the last couple ofyears. Coming to League from touch rugby he has had a fairly steep learning curve. He played well in last year's U20 grand final, though Carlos took the player- of- the- day. But his form over the year was a bit hit and miss. He excels in broken field play, a legacy of his touch days, but fails to shine in the tight. His kicking game can be brilliant but can also be dreadful.
So how will he go in the NRL?
It is worth remembering that for most of his U20's career he was behind a dominant pack. Apparently he has gone well for the Vulcans, but again behind a dominant pack.
Now my question is has he leapfrogged over John and Godinet? I thought
john looked really solid before his injury and linked well with Maloney. The glimpse of Godinet I saw in the Greymouth trial I really liked the way he linked with Fish. Sadly there is no TV coverage of the Vulcans.
OK. So is Johnson going to be given a shot until Seymour comes back or will Ivan play it safe?
The Warrior's have brought Johnson along slowly; rightly so. I am not convinced, on Saturday's showing, he is ready for first grade. But I am prepared to see him given a chance.
However I would hate to lose John & Godinet just because they are held back.

No one's being held back. If you're one of the best two halves at the club you'll get a gig. That simple. As it is all over the league. I don't think Godinet has anything to worry about, firstly, obviously he's out injured. Secondly, I really doubt Maloney is staying beyond next year. I'd think there is a reasonably decent chance that Johnson and Godinet will play in the halves when that happens.

I don't think Johnson did anything too wrong to have any negative judgment on him to be honest. The conditions were wet and it slowed all the halves passing down. So he probably ran a little more, trying to get a tired forward to slip to create a gap off his stepping. His kicking was decent, I thought he probably outshone James in close quarter kicking (personally, I don't rate Maloney's close quarter kicking too highly, though I do rate his long field kicking). I thought some of his bombs were epic, its great to see a Warrior who can spiral a bomb and put the fullback under considerable pressure. The area I was concerned about was his defence. But I thought he was very good defensively.

I think he'll be far better this week, particularly if he gets some dry conditions to work with. Last weeks game, as far as halves go, as far as the conditions go, you get made to look good if you have a clinical kicking game into corners. Otherwise its hard to create too much out there.

 

[One Warrior]

3. Packer
2. Matulino
1. Rapira

 

[Revelation 3:20]

3. Packer - Has stepped up
2. Matulino
1. Rapira - Will be great when the Bros are both fit

 

[Warrior@Heart]

3. Packer
2. Matulino
1. Rapira

I think Johnson was solid on defence, good kicking and he didn't look lost or unfit. So with that said I think he played good. He reminds me of Soward when he first came in to grade. Broken play specialist, solid kicker, good step, good pace just needs to work on passing at the line i guess but that would hopefully come with confidence.

 

[Rich102]

This week's results:

Packer 54
Matulino 39
St. Rapira 15
Mateo 5
Luck 4
Locke 3
Taylor 2
Mannering 2

 

[ozbash]

3. Packer
2. Matulino
1. Rapira

I think Johnson was solid on defence, good kicking and he didn't look lost or unfit. So with that said I think he played good. He reminds me of Soward when he first came in to grade. Broken play specialist, solid kicker, good step, good pace just needs to work on passing at the line i guess but that would hopefully come with confidence.

thing I liked about Shaun was his confidence. How many debutant halves would kick on the first tackle and put his captain in ?

guy has all the skills

 

[devoid]

How many debutant halves would kick on the first tackle and put his captain in ?

guy has all the skills

FTR, I would've - but I've never been given the chance.

 

[hitman82]

I would have faked an injury when it became apparent we are going to lose.

 

[_addict]

thing I liked about Shaun was his confidence. How many debutant halves would kick on the first tackle and put his captain in ?

guy has all the skills

Overall I was happy enough with Johnsons' game. On that particular occasion however I did wonder if he needed to kick it when we appeared to have the numbers that side.