To be fair, AJ played the last part of the season with a hamstring tear and busted shoulder. If you watch his games in the first half of the season, he was playing a lot stronger than the 2nd half. Obviously the coach and the senior playing group wanted him there even though he was clearly injured.
Rob Jennings is one dimensional- any winger could have scored the tries he was gifted.
Yes he is strong, but he has no speed off the mark.
That is why they wanted to keep AJ rather than Jennings
There were four or five games in the beginning of the season, about from the third game on, when Johnston seemed to have improved defensively, he had four games when he did tackle but then he reverted to his old powder puff self.
Now there is a lot of time between, lets say game seven or eight till the end of the season, that's a long time to carry an injury.
If what you say about injuries is true (I have no reason to doubt you or believe you) then South medical/rehab team need to be removed and replaced. To carry injuries into games for so long must result in permanent damage.
We have all watched Johnston for a number of years and he has glaring weaknesses in defence.
Maybe Bennett the wonder coach can sort him out - here's hoping.