When the Knights smashed the Dragons, it wasn't only Johns that won the game. There were another sixteen men on the field that won the game for the Knights. Who is to say that those sixteen can't fire again to put in another strong performance. Without Joey, we lose our attacking flair and exuberence, but that can be easily accounted for by employing a simpler game plan that doesn't involve the long cut out passes.
The Cowboys have a very simply game plan that has worked wonders this year. They get Aaron Payne to run to one side of the play the ball, while Thurston runs on the other side. Payne picks it up draws the markers and defenders across before popping a ball up to Thurston to burst through a hole with Bowen backing up. It is a very simply and effective way the Cowboys get the job done.
Do you remember the Thaiday try against the Dragons. It was a very simply play that just required two men drifting across the field before bullet-passing a short ball to Thaiday running a dead straight line to score under the posts. And i believe it was M.Gidley, not Johns, who layed the final pass for Thaiday to scoot in under the posts.
If we do manage to win without Johns, maybe it won't look as good as our win against the Dragons, but it will do wonders for the team in terms of confidence. Now let's get rid of all this negativity because you better get used to a 'Johns-less' team when he eventually does decide to retire.
