Pacific Cup 2024

[Thatwasnthighref]

Just seen the stories confirming his return... bloody hell.

So either he's had a miraculous improvement in the last week or so, or he's gonna play busted like he did for most of this year.

Brave call on his part to be fair. Finished on a good note (relatively speaking) with the Sharks game but next couple tests could overshadow all that if they turn into car wrecks.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Busted, retired 2024 SJ is probably worse in reality than almost any other option we could have chosen. However, his name on the team sheet does give me more delusional cause for false hope than the other options, so that's nice.

The Sharks game gives me hope. SJ is probably too busted for week to week NRL - but he’s probably got it in him to play one-offs.

and I’m absolutely not gonna criticise him for making himself available if it’s a response to an SOS to replace Hughes, that’s ballsy. Hopefully he just goes all out, because all-out no fear SJ is what we all want to see.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

The Sharks game gives me hope. SJ is probably too busted for week to week NRL - but he’s probably got it in him to play one-offs.

and I’m absolutely not gonna criticise him for making himself available if it’s a response to an SOS to replace Hughes, that’s ballsy. Hopefully he just goes all out, because all-out no fear SJ is what we all want to see.

Oh I'm definitely not going to criticise him. Even if this is probably a manifestation of his ego gone wild yet again, give me someone whose ego makes them want to play for the Kiwis over yet another prick coming up with an excuse to not play, any day.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

I can’t bag it, we are desperate, and he has answered the call, can’t ask for much more than that

 

[Blair]

I can’t bag it, we are desperate, and he has answered the call, can’t ask for much more than that.

Will he answer a few desperate calls next year, and beyond, from the Warriors?

Actually, according to (Adam) Blair's crystal ball we'll be in line for a premiership in 2027. That's a 36 year old SJ right there!

 

[shinobi]

There was a write up on him a few months back... from memory he moved to Aus at 15 which rules him out for Origin unless there's some other rule quirk that gets him in.

Maybe hes just a hearty Kuki then. Good on him if so.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Canterbury Rugby League do some great work with their written articles, Will Evans is very good. Link below for anyone interested in the Kangaroos past matches in Canterbury

A SHORT HISTORY OF...THE KANGAROOS IN CANTERBURY - Canterbury Rugby League – Home to the Canterbury Bulls

With just over a fortnight until Australia’s first match in Ōtautahi Christchurch since 1989, we’re looking back at every match the green-and-golds have played in our region. The Kangaroos take on the Kiwis at Apollo Projects Stadium on Sunday, October 27, in one half of a Pacific Championships...

canterburyrugbyleague.co.nz

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Oh I'm definitely not going to criticise him. Even if this is probably a manifestation of his ego gone wild yet again, give me someone whose ego makes them want to play for the Kiwis over yet another prick coming up with an excuse to not play, any day.

This is a good post.

I've thrown up in my mouth a bit over the past few weeks, I really am sick of the SJ farewell tour and how his ego has milked every minute of it. It really explains how his career played out.

However...he said he'd step up if required, had ruled himself out if Hughes wasn't in, and now he's stepping in for the betterment of the team. So that's noble.

 

[sup42]

Bitterly disappointing to lose Jahrome, grateful to Johnson for rescuing the Kiwis campaign.

Shaun is still a decent enough player with quality around him to help us win this thing, without him we just don't have a kicking platform....game over...so he really has saved the day for Kiwis fans.

If we do win and SJ plays a pivotal role I can already see my rose tinted glasses being polished and donned for a nostalgic view of Johnsons overall contribution to NZRL.

That second to last season of his, the final game, a Pacific cup rescue mission, it could all elevate his status to one of the great careers.

I have no idea how this team will go, so many guys I would not have picked make up these Kiwi surprise teams, I would not have picked half the guys in the last squad, and they were brilliant so....

I expect SJ coming to the rescue was about helping out the original SJ, I mean who could turn Stacey down in his first gig when the halfback drops out. It would be pretty hard to say no after all the years those two have been friends.

SJ may not have reached the heights he should as an NRL great, but he is a Kiwi test match great, he has never refused the call, and this just reinforces that he is a true Kiwi, as true as any Kiwi.

 

[Matua]

I'm glad SJ is stepping up but I'm slightly worried about how overboard NZRL are going on about it. They posted 4 instagrams in a row about it on their page, essentially giving him an extended digital BJ.

In all honesty it feels like whoever ran the page is more happy SJ is there than Hughes.

 

[sup42]

Oh I'm definitely not going to criticise him. Even if this is probably a manifestation of his ego gone wild yet again, give me someone whose ego makes them want to play for the Kiwis over yet another prick coming up with an excuse to not play, any day.

I'm glad SJ is stepping up but I'm slightly worried about how overboard NZRL are going on about it. They posted 4 instagrams in a row about it on their page, essentially giving him an extended digital BJ.

In all honesty it feels like whoever ran the page is more happy SJ is there than Hughes.

I don't want to be a hypocrite here because I have been a trainspotting critic of Shaun Johnsons entire career.

But I feel strongly that the NZRL better dam well hold a circle Jerk over this announcement because they are so useless they did not even arrange a testimonial game for him or any kind of special event, even an electronic thanks for the memories should be the bare minimum a national sporting body arranges for one of its stars.

This probably belongs in the SJ thread but my prejudice of his career started the first game I saw him play, he bombed two certain Try's by not passing it and trying to lay on a selfie moment with the skip sideways shit that he haunted us with for the rest of his career. Frankly his one biggest weakness is that he is a hungus.

Benji who has far more ground breaking and trophy cabinet street credentials would do some magic and put a pass on the end of it, SJ would just be me me me.

I digress, I think this last hoorah, this SJ series is the least he deserves purely as a genuine servant of the New Zealand black and white. Wank on NZRL wank on.

 

[Matua]

I don't want to be a hypocrite here because I have been a trainspotting critic of Shaun Johnsons entire career.

But I feel strongly that the NZRL better dam well hold a circle Jerk over this announcement because they are so useless they did not even arrange a testimonial game for him or any kind of special event, even an electronic thanks for the memories should be the bare minimum a national sporting body arranges for one of its stars.

This probably belongs in the SJ thread but my prejudice of his career started the first game I saw him play, he bombed two certain Try's by not passing it and trying to lay on a selfie moment with the skip sideways shit that he haunted us with for the rest of his career. Frankly his one biggest weakness is that he is a hungus.

Benji who has far more ground breaking and trophy cabinet street credentials would do some magic and put a pass on the end of it, SJ would just be me me me.

I digress, I think this last hoorah, this SJ series is the least he deserves purely as a genuine servant of the New Zealand black and white. Wank on NZRL wank on.

Well one thing I learnt from the NZRL fluffing of SJ is he hasn't played for the Kiwis in five years so there have been little chance for an event for him. Plus is he really more deserving than other long standing Kiwis? For example, I think Jesse Bromwich is more deserving, gave great service, was at the top of his game for the majority of his career, was shamefully treated in 2017 by an idiotic NZRL who replaced him with domestic abuser.

Anyway, I hope SJ has 2023 Warriors form for the Kiwis.

 

[Blair]

I'm a funny one. When it comes to the Kiwis I think I tuned out after '91.

So, when it comes to 'memorable Kiwis' halves', Shane Varley rings out in my head over Shaun Johnson all day. Varley had Daryl Eastlake though. Therefore, it's a given.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

SJ may not have reached the heights he should as an NRL great, but he is a Kiwi test match great, he has never refused the call, and this just reinforces that he is a true Kiwi, as true as any Kiwi.

He refused the call last year.

As @Matua said, he made it pretty hard for the NZRL to put on some sort of retirement event for him, given he hasn't played since 2019 and then turned down what could have been his last opportunity in 2023.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I'm glad SJ is stepping up but I'm slightly worried about how overboard NZRL are going on about it. They posted 4 instagrams in a row about it on their page, essentially giving him an extended digital BJ.

In all honesty it feels like whoever ran the page is more happy SJ is there than Hughes.

Ha, the Warriors have been doing this for a month, too. I'm absolutely SJ'ed out, and I haven't even followed his podcast since the first 2 eps.

I don't see it the way the general public does.

The ACC posted a 'moment of the year' and the three moments were an Adam Pompey shot that made a Panthers player puke, the Tuaupiki try to beat the Panthers, and the SJ final game pass for the DWZ try.

To me, the Tuaupiki try wins every day. Our season was still alive, he kicks the goal under pressure, it's a no-brainer for me. We beat Penrith. But SJ got 68% of the vote.