Shaun Johnson

[SpaceMonkey]

Agree with others here, SJ isn't the problem. He had a few phone-ins this year but they were mostly early in the season when he was coming back from injury.
Look at the Souths game- in the first ten minutes he forced multiple drop outs and we looked the goods, then our forwards got smashed and he couldn't get a platform for the rest of the half and we got raped. That wasn't his fault.
Also worth noting how many games we've won without SJ in the last couple of seasons. A big fat zero, and we were absolutely towelled in most of them. He and to a lesser extent Mannering are the difference between this team being competitive and Knights-level shit, which is probably why he's played every game of the season despite carrying an injury for half of it.

 

[JJ]

He shouldn't have had half arsed performances early though, you play or not


But yeah, he's been good and I'm not really a fan, but the structure and plays are shit, and there is no second creative option. He's not Johns, and even Thurston has Morgan and Coote to take some heat off

 

[SpaceMonkey]

He shouldn't have had half arsed performances early though, you play or not

Except as I said he's so vital to the team that he likely wasn't given the option of a couple of games in reserve grate to get his confidence/match fitness back. In SJs case he pretty much has to play unless he's completely unable to, which is unfair pressure in itself.

 

[JJ]

Comes with the territory though, others at other clubs have it too, if he was that far short he simply shouldn't have played

But yeah, without Mannering we concede 40 per game, and without Johnson we struggle to score

 

[Penrose Warrior]

If he starts next year injury-free and under a decent coach, I'll be passing my ultimate judgement on who he is as a player. No idea how much the quad has been playing on him, and for the last five years he's never played under a good coach.

Having said that, he has shown signs of maturity and game-controlling this year. I think he made definite improvements in that and his kicking game, both short and long. Hoping the quad is why he didn't engage the line as much as I'd like this season.

 

[TheDMC]

Yeah SJ has gone pretty good most of this season. Developed some good aspects to his game. His running game went to shit though. Quite bizarre that he seems pretty physical and determined in the tackle yet not keen to run at the line. Guys with his footwork barely ever get smashed, way more likely to get hurt tackling. He is a conundrum.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Fair enough fellas, maybe I'm being a bit harsh. A few comments in the media put me off a bit as well, especially the Fittler stuff

The stats are very good, but in terms of producing in the pressure games, still a long way off the mark for me. Guess I just want to see a bit more of the good reliable half play that wins games rather than just the flashy stuff. Stuff like the ability to set up for a droppie etc, and get the forwards going to the spots you want them to be on the park

My gut feel is still that his beat position is as a running 6, so thought Robson might be a good signing outside of him, but he needs someone like that beside him I think

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

At the end of the day, we need SJ in our team. Yeah criticise him like we should cos hes not perfect and he is frusterating to be a fan of at times but we need him.

I know EXACTLY what will happen if he went to the Storm, Broncos, Cowboys (who'd sign him, believe me) and we dont want that.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Fo

At the end of the day, we need SJ in our team. Yeah criticise him like we should cos hes not perfect and he is frusterating to be a fan of at times but we need him.

I know EXACTLY what will happen if he went to the Storm, Broncos, Cowboys (who'd sign him, believe me) and we dont want that.

For Kiwi's we might!

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

For Kiwi's we might!

Totally understand why you say kiwis (only) Phil. We post comments live about the Warriors game on here and you know I post some bad shit about SJ at times during the games but Id pick him every week. He would have to play 2 consecutive shockers for me to drop him.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Totally understand why you say kiwis (only) Phil. We post comments live about the Warriors game on here and you know I post some bad shit about SJ at times during the games but Id pick him every week. He would have to play 2 consecutive shockers for me to drop him.

He has more talent in his little finger nail than I have in total.
I get frustrated with his game sense and how he doesn't like to take the line unless he sees a gap.he.knows he can 100% get thru.
Guess it's the type of half you like, if he had a Cronk or Foran he would look like a wizard!

 

[Rich102]

I think we all agree Johnson is a brilliant broken field runner.
My problem is his control of the team.
He is a classic 6 being put into a 7 jersey. It doesn't fit.
For a 7 I look for someone to steer the team around the field, aim the attack at the oppositions weaknesses, assess what is working and not working, try different ways to do things that aren't working and keep the communication lines open - organising, planning, heckling.
Johnson does the 6 role well - for the 7 he is too predictable. Pass to Johnson, he runs across field, offloads to a forward (In worse position than himself.) or kicks. Too often the kick is his goto play from tackle 3 on, even if he has unmarked players outside him.
He needs a dominant organising half inside him.

He likes the flashy stuff, let him do it, but we need a controlling half to enable him to do it. He can't do it all himself.

I hope the new coach gives Ata the job. He can do it.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

With SJs injuries, it makes me wonder about his careers longevity as a top half.

You look at Benji and it seems not so long ago that he was the side stepping star that SJ is now.

Hope SJ doesnt fade too fast.

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

Benji had a few years where his shoulders and knee (I think) weren't up to it meaning he got injured in routine situations like tackling....Shaun had a badly broken ankle as a result of a fatty falling on top of him, apples and oranges IMO

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Benji had a few years where his shoulders and knee (I think) weren't up to it meaning he got injured in routine situations like tackling....Shaun had a badly broken ankle as a result of a fatty falling on top of him, apples and oranges IMO

Yeah but he has got a quad or hamstring problem as well. You mustve forgot this years injury concern around SJ..

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

Yeah but he has got a quad or hamstring problem as well. You mustve forgot this years injury concern around SJ..

No I'm just a little confused, SJ has had two injuries fro memory,the broken ankle and what ever it was that has slowed him down this year. He still played the season out, and at a reasonably high standard too. Was just a bit confused about your comment about longevity and the comparison with Benji, as its apples/oranges as Benji was injury prove for about the first 5 years of his career.

 

[Benek]

Sounds like Shaun hasn't trained much in months and may have been closer to sitting out more games than we realised. Playing through an injury for that long, I'd say he's had a pretty good season. Had he been fully fit, he could have been off the charts.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11702545

As others have said he has progressed his game this year. If fit next year and more confident running and kicking I have high expectations.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

No I'm just a little confused, SJ has had two injuries fro memory,the broken ankle and what ever it was that has slowed him down this year. He still played the season out, and at a reasonably high standard too. Was just a bit confused about your comment about longevity and the comparison with Benji, as its apples/oranges as Benji was injury prove for about the first 5 years of his career.

I was just pondering on the longevity of SJs stardom because the basis of that stardom is his ability to carve up. Injuries can hamper that but so can a decline in performance.

You look at Benjis clip underneath, that wasnt so long ago and listen to the commentary to remind you of his status at the time..

And now look at Benji an unwanted man..

Its a stark reminder that stars come and go. Is Inglis star still shining?

Organisational halves like Thurston, Cronk and Cam Smith, they dont have to step and sprint. They work with their spine and players to make them look good and you know where Im going with this regarding these kind of halves and why their stardom shines longer than running halves.

Running halves like Widdop, Milford, Benji and our SJ, they dont seem to last long because as we know they exert more physically, engage in contact more and when their evasive skills start to decline theyre pretty much shot because they run better than they organize.

I just hope SJs time isnt up anytime soon cos we want to see more of his types of tries. Just my thoughts..

 

[ozbash]

Still say he defends too much...

 

[JJ]

Still say he defends too much...

You mean Johnson? Dunno, but what strikes me is that when defending he seems to welcome the physicality, but when he has ball in hand he looks scared of it.

Yeah, the old Benji was special, of course watching that clip he went to the line, rather than drifting across field and passing to the touchie... he was more direct in his younger days