We need to talk about our Johnson

[Penrose Warrior]

4am and the baby won't sleep, but I think it's this that's got me restless...

I just can't get a handle on where Shaun Johnson is at. Before I go on, as I have before, I should volunteer that I have been an SJ sycophant since back in the U20s days. I (did) get a thrill out of watching him. I like the guy as a person, I think he's top quality there and I've certainly enjoyed the shit out of his career at times.

But he's performing well below the levels required of a six-year NRL player, Test proven, marquee-paid halfback. He was horrendous last night and hasn't been much better across 2016. We could've won yesterday with someone in the 7 playing to a good NRL standard.

Is it the injury? He's playing scared. These pissy grubbers on 4th tackle when he's advanced on, constantly dumping it off and not engaging the line etc...I know he's never been Braveheart but he's never been this bad. Having said that, his worst play was that absolutely pathetic kick out on the full last night, where he kicked high into the wind and let it balloon out on the full. That was about the dumbest thing I've seen from an NRL playmaker.

I've put it down to poor coaching, and I still do in the past because in six years he's had one year of a decent coach and went to the GF with us. So I'd love to think he'd get a good one next year, although in saying that he's been very public in backing Cappy.

Keen to hear people's thoughts because he's an issue that needs sorting.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

He's not a controlling half that's for sure. I reckon he needs to be dropped for a few rounds. Like Tevaga is schooling Luke at the Hooker role atm we need one of our young guns to step up and school the half back role into SJ's brain. He too much of a touch player still and he will never take on the line if he thinks he gonna get a lil knock or cut. Hingano, Mason, Robson please stand up.

I remember watching some Daniel Anderson interviews from back 2002-2003. I liked how Anderson got into his players heads and will say simple stuff to improve their confidence, ego etc. He will say things like Meli you're stronger than your opposition player run at him all day tire him out. Toopi you're faster than your opposing player run around him shit like that. I could imagine DA saying to Johnson. You are UNTOUCHABLE almost when you take on the line. Take on the line son all day put the d in 2 -3 minds. I feel like yelling at SJ so he can get it in his head that everyone shits themselves when he takes on the line.

 

[Meth]

The wind was out of control last night and would have been really hard to gauge. In saying that, Soward and the Panthers did it better and played smarter. No surprises there unfortunately.

Some good touches last night too.

I am not keen to drop him. Tevaga has obviously been a nice surprise, but we won't get those surprises from Lino or Robson...maybe Hingaro, but he's so young.

 

[Diesel]

I'm not in favour of dropping him however how far away is Hingaro from realistically being a FGer?

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

The wind was out of control last night and would have been really hard to gauge.

Fair point about the wind she was blowing hard all game. What troubles me Meth is that SJ should of kept his kicking game to a minimum instead of risking the high long kicks against such conditions. This was a game where we needed to keep things in the middle and really tight. SJ was given all the space to take on the line in numerous occasions. He got a try assist by talking on the line drawing ppl in and got rewarded for it. This should of been the blueprint for the whole game.

The wind has nothing to do with SJ being a chicken. He just needs to harden up and play like a 6 year veteran should and take a game by the scruff for a change!

 

[Rich102]

And how did the wind explain the Pennies first try when SJ tried to throw the ball back in his own in goal? Just plain stupid.
Or the second try when they just run at the space where he should have been? (Thompson gets a lot of criticism for his defence; a lot is because Johnson is up in front of him.)

Every coach and team in the NRL knows SJ weaknesses and are quite happy to exploit them.

Cappy says the key to the Warriors winning is to get the ball to SJ more - we did that against the Storm. Did it work?

SJ needs a break to reevaluate his game. Hingano is ready. Is Cappy?

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Not sure how a new coach would fix him, it's hard to undo 5-6 years of bad habits quickly and I'm not sure you can teach some things he seems to be lacking? Eg footy smarts.
I saw refs training once where they get their heart rate up to 140+ then get them to make calls in a game, as fatigue/stress changes ability's/perception, I wonder if we train like that?

He must be seeing the sports shrink? Why is he or she not helping ala Anderson style prep up.

I guess Milford has turned around under a solid coach, so might be some hope?

 

[Blair]

Since the club is now into mentoring it's likely Johnson needed a settled, experienced halves partner from 2013 onwards, along with a top notch coach.

It'll be a sad day when we start discussing his career in past tense, as in his best days being behind him. That could even be starting now.

He'll have a blinder next week though, you watch.

 

[Auckland4ever]

Have said this for years - the overarching, major problem with the Warriors isn't one individual - it's the inability of the whole side to limit the opposition to less than 20 points on a regular basis. Defence = holistic.

Drop SJ, somehow get Thurston to replace him & I have no doubt we would still be no chance to win a premiership. Pick from any half on planet earth, place them in a Warriors jersey and they are suddenly going to be expected to play their part in trying to conjure up at least four or five tries virtually every week, and that's just to get to the point where the team is only a chance to win the game.

Johnson is never going to be perfect, he's not likely to ever meet people's lofty expectations of him. Those people who are already cynical about his ability aren't likely to ever change their negative perception of him as a player. IMO, none of this should matter anywhere near as much as it does - but it's an issue that gets fixated on time and time again in mainstream and social media.

Different players have commanded a huge amount of scrutiny and criticism at the Warriors (SJ now, Manu previously), yet the same old story remains. The Warriors are a million miles away from having the kind of awareness, cohesion and grit required as a unit to grind out wins and to compensate for any mistakes made in attack.

Once again, the Storm kept a side to less than 20 last night - the Cowboys, no less. This is despite mistakes/dropped ball and the huge pressure they were under in the early stages of that game. If we were capable of defending like the Storm do pretty much every week, despite his f*ck-ups in Chch, Johnson would have still actually done enough against Penrith for us to win that game and the same could likely be said for a large number of our losses over the past few years.

 

[AuckMel]

Have said this for years - the overarching, major problem with the Warriors isn't one individual - it's the inability of the whole side to limit the opposition to less than 20 points on a regular basis. Defence = holistic.

Drop SJ, somehow get Thurston to replace him & I have no doubt we would still be no chance to win a premiership. Pick from any half on planet earth, place them in a Warriors jersey and they are suddenly going to be expected to play their part in trying to conjure up at least four or five tries virtually every week, and that's just to get to the point where the team is only a chance to win the game.

Johnson is never going to be perfect, he's not likely to ever meet people's lofty expectations of him. Those people who are already cynical about his ability aren't likely to ever change their negative perception of him as a player. IMO, none of this should matter anywhere near as much as it does - but it's an issue that gets fixated on time and time again in mainstream and social media.

Different players have commanded a huge amount of scrutiny and criticism at the Warriors (SJ now, Manu previously), yet the same old story remains. The Warriors are a million miles away from having the kind of awareness, cohesion and grit required as a unit to grind out wins and to compensate for any mistakes made in attack.

Once again, the Storm kept a side to less than 20 last night - the Cowboys, no less. This is despite mistakes/dropped ball and the huge pressure they were under in the early stages of that game. If we were capable of defending like the Storm do pretty much every week, despite his f*ck-ups in Chch, Johnson would have still actually done enough against Penrith for us to win that game and the same could likely be said for a large number of our losses over the past few years.

Great post.

 

[Skinner]

Great post.

Totally agree. Great post A4E

 

[ozbash]

I think the guy is desperate.
I think he feels he is responsible for the teams form.
I think he try too hard.
I think his leg is healed but his mind still has a busted ankle.
I think the team culture/attitude is eroding his confidence
I think the club puts too much emphasis on SJ-Match winner.

When things do turn to shit, a la v panthers, the blame is placed on the halves ( rightly or wrongly) and it has a huge affect on him..

 

[Skinner]

I actually think there is way too much pressure on him, from all corners. He has taken it on board and he is not ready for it. Trying way too hard (witness the brain snap yesterday). Just needs to play his natural game and all will be well.

 

[vvvrulz]

I've been a Johnson critic in the past, but I thought he really put in some effort last night.
He didn't cost us the game.

Having a useless half next to him also meant he had double his duties.

 

[ozbash]

Yea.. he tried but for me it was probably one of his poorer games...

He really looked rattled.

 

[Leber]

Wonder how a Lolohea Robson combo would go while Johnson has a week in the reserves to sort his game out

 

[TheDMC]

Really good points made guys.

To summarize from what I read and what I think:

- Too much pressure and expectation on him
- he will never have the skill set of a complete half like thurston (much better runner and probably a better defender but that is it)
- He needs to run, run, run - he is so at his best when he does that and opens up opportunities off the cuff and executes them beautifully, conversely he is bog average when he pre-meditates plays..
- Our woeful defence makes his job 100x harder
- A quality controlling half next to him would go a long way -- Soward would be perfect!

Still one of my favourite players but until our defence starts doing its job he is going to struggle.

I've said this before, somehow coaches and team and himself just have to ingrain a run first mentality.

 

[Dr Crane]

Johnson needs one thing - to get absolutely buried by someone and realise he can stand up.

That won't change his general nature, he'll never be Stace or Maloney, but it'll fix what our team is built for. I do trust him that he can take that role in-game, if needed.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

ive followed johnson since he was very young and in the warriors system. hes always been SCARED on defence. horrible defender in the line. on attack though the more structured he is the more robotic he plays. just needs to be left to play whats in front of him

 

[MKEB...]

I actually think there is way too much pressure on him, from all corners. He has taken it on board and he is not ready for it. Trying way too hard (witness the brain snap yesterday). Just needs to play his natural game and all will be well.

IMO you are correct: Isaac luke is off his game, Robson really does not have a game and Lolohea is betwixt and between. Wen Isaac is on , Jazz goes to lock. , Jazz is our only other playmaker.