Shaun Johnson

[Rich102]

You may be right but it goes deeper than that.
When he gets the ball his first thought is do I pass or kick? Quick now, before someone touches me.

He needs more time with the ball in hand thinking; Where is the opposition fullback? Is my winger free? Is the opposition center, who was injured last play, still out of position? Instead he just runs across field and lays the ball off to the first forward he comes to.

For me though, seriously, it is the fact that he thinks he is above criticism. Fittlers comments were seriously meant and Johnson just brushed them off.

How many games like yesterday can he play and still be considered a first-grade half?

I said last season that the Warriors can't get to a grand final with Johnson in the halves. Nothing I have seen this season changes my mind. Probably the most important positions in the team, the halves, and he hasn't demonstrated he can read the game or control the team. Too predictable.

Robson played better than him yesterday. What does that say?

 

[ozbash]

I had to look for SJ yesterday.. apart from a few touches later in the game he was the invisible man in attack, but noticed him a fair bit on D..

 

[Meth]

Still say he defends too much...

Yeah, come to think of it, I'd agree with that. I noticed that too yesterday. His defense has improved and his confidence has grown- and now he is probably making no effort to shirk defensive duties, which is exactly what the opposition will want.

Well done Oz. Good contribution.

 

[ozbash]

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..

You compare SJ to arguably the best half in the game, JT and you can't really call Shaun a halfback.. he is a 2nd rower with a 7 on his back..

Our hooker/s are our organisers, TL is our kicker and pretty much main defender..

The Warriors don't believe in playmakers or creative halves.

Our main meter eaters are backs, our forwards are plodders with maybe a couple of exceptions..

This has been the case since Cleary left..

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I said last season that the Warriors can't get to a grand final with Johnson in the halves. Nothing I have seen this season changes my mind. Probably the most important positions in the team, the halves, and he hasn't demonstrated he can read the game or control the team. Too predictable.

Robson played better than him yesterday. What does that say?

We've already been to a GF with Shaun in the halves, he needs the right coach and the right foil for him at 6. Or least I think he does. Once he gets those things, then we can truly decide how good/not good he is.

As for yesterday, he'd want to have been injured. He offered absolutely zero. Think he ran for 11m.

 

[vvvrulz]

He needs more time with the ball in hand thinking; Where is the opposition fullback? Is my winger free? Is the opposition center, who was injured last play, still out of position? Instead he just runs across field and lays the ball off to the first forward he comes to.

Although I'm also critical of SJ's attacking involvement, Thomas and Luke took a lot of heat off him yesterday and we *rarely* held the ball long enough to construct any sort of decent attack that wasn't jungle ball nonsense. Our ball security is probably some of the laziest in the NRL.

And let's also consider what he had around him, Fusitua and Wright aren't centres, Manu was having one of his specials, and spent most of his time doing hitups anyway so was hardly in position, Ken and Tui are possibly two of the worst backs we've fielded in our club history. His two key back row combinations, Bodene and Bunty, were off the field for large parts of the game, Bodene and Mutts were in full on plod mode. Thomas (bless his effort), is a limited half. SJ is also clearly carrying an injury.

The odds were really stacked against him, no he wasn't great yesterday but even the Melbourne spine would struggle to spark something with so much crud to work with.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

I'm one of his biggest supporters/fan-boys whatever you wanna call it, but he regressed yesterday. Hardly even touched the ball for the first 40 minutes.

I hope he has a good tour with the Kiwis and builds some confidence that he can bring into 2017.

 

[ozbash]

hope he has a good tour with the Kiwis and builds some confidence that he can bring into 2017.

Hopefully in 2017 we'll have the coaches to continue his run.

If he plays 4 nations, he'll carve up.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

You compare SJ to arguably the best half in the game, JT and you can't really call Shaun a halfback.. he is a 2nd rower with a 7 on his back..

Yes and no. I do compare him to Thurston but not in regards to overall ability. If you read again, Im talking about their strengths and how long a running half compared to an organisational half lasts.

Running halfs are guys like Benji and SJ because thats what they do so well, thats what dubbed Benji the best player in the world not so long, at a time when THURSTON was around.

Organisational halves are guys like Cronk and Thurston because organising plays and working within his organisation (spine) is what THEY do so well.

All four players can run and organise but some are better at one of those more than the other.

I was comparing the longevity at the top (super stardom) between a running half and an organisational half. I was just wondering how long will SJ be at the top before he dies out. I was NOT comparing their overall ability, just who stays at the top longer. Will guys like Milford and Shaun continue to break the line (on the frequency theyre at now) for as long as Thurston has reigned?

 

[TheDMC]

Johnson was mud on Sunday but he yeah he didn't have anything to work with. With injury and crud around him, and in front of him (or meant to be in front of him) for much of the season I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

He is a cream player - will build off good forward momentum, feed hungry, hole running sharp backs fantastically and find his own holes.

He cannot wrest control back when the team is going shit. Not that kind of player. That's okay, he isn't JT or Cronk.

We need power forwards who can change momentum. And a complementary half with a great kicking game. Hodgkinson or Soward type players.
Our outer backs when fit are pretty good - Futs/Manu wings, Ashyford and Kata centers, RTS full back. Lolo can be utility if he can get some confidence back.

More damaging forwards and a complementary half and pray like f**k for no backline injuries.

A new coach too obviously.

Sorted.