NZ Warriors Shaun Johnson Retirement | The Warriorholic & Martin Devlin
@theplatformnz It’s Only Sport | The Warriorholic & Martin Devlin discuss Shaun Johnson’s retirement from the NZ Warriors. Was the timing right? What legacy does he leave? And who replaces him in 2025?
Good point about SJ not being the type of player stylistically to be a consistent game managing type halfback year after year. Early on in his career I always thought he should have been a fullback. Looking back now, he might have been a better 6, the type of player who could play off a more structured and consistent 7.
SJ-2014 Golden Boot winner who cut a very good Aussie side to pieces in Four Nations Final.One of his finest games. -2023 Players Player of the Year winner -for me a honor far higher then the flawed DallyM -A legend who I believe suffered with far too many different coaches and playing in very average sides over his career.I hate to think how many more games we would have lost without him and how small the home crowds would have become.So many wonderful memories to treasure. Totally agree about TMM who is very good in games where he has time when his forwards dominate but when the pressure of finals like games arrive (Dogs / Raiders)and his time is cut down he goes MIA.His last tackle plays can be great but far too often they are poorly executed or the option taken is wrong.However he is a massive fan favorite so say anything negative about him on almost all Warrior supporters podcasts and one gets a real reaction which often gets to the point of being hilarious. I doubt there is a top class halfback on the market that we could get for 2025 so what to do? For me Metcalf who is now 25yrs old should be given the half back spot for 2025.I think he will be great but if he isn't start the search for another. Ben Farr who is 23yrs old not a raw youngster is also an option as he has some real silky skills and a good league brain. UP DA WAHS
I'd go as far to say if we didn't have TMM we'd be running last this year. Yes, hes not the final product and you say he's almost 100 games in but how many of those 100 games was he a halfback? We got him from the Bronx where he played fullback. He has room to grow as a genuine 7. That 3 game stretch where he masterminded wins against Penrith and Redcliffe and the clinics he put on against the cowboys and Broncos are why we are not getting the wooden spoon this year. Hindsight is a Shit thing cos in hindsight Webby probably should have given him the drivers seat earlier but I don't blame him for having patience with SJ given his form last year. He's our best option for next year, not necessarily long term but in the short term there are no other options, we need to go all in on him until Jett comes through.
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9 weeks to late
Good point about SJ not being the type of player stylistically to be a consistent game managing type halfback year after year. Early on in his career I always thought he should have been a fullback. Looking back now, he might have been a better 6, the type of player who could play off a more structured and consistent 7.
SJ-2014 Golden Boot winner who cut a very good Aussie side to pieces in Four Nations Final.One of his finest games.
-2023 Players Player of the Year winner -for me a honor far higher then the flawed DallyM
-A legend who I believe suffered with far too many different coaches and playing in very average sides over his career.I hate to think how many more games we would have lost without him and how small the home crowds would have become.So many wonderful memories to treasure.
Totally agree about TMM who is very good in games where he has time when his forwards dominate but when the pressure of finals like games arrive (Dogs / Raiders)and his time is cut down he goes MIA.His last tackle plays can be great but far too often they are poorly executed or the option taken is wrong.However he is a massive fan favorite so say anything negative about him on almost all Warrior supporters podcasts and one gets a real reaction which often gets to the point of being hilarious.
I doubt there is a top class halfback on the market that we could get for 2025 so what to do? For me Metcalf who is now 25yrs old should be given the half back spot for 2025.I think he will be great but if he isn't start the search for another. Ben Farr who is 23yrs old not a raw youngster is also an option as he has some real silky skills and a good league brain.
UP DA WAHS
I'd go as far to say if we didn't have TMM we'd be running last this year. Yes, hes not the final product and you say he's almost 100 games in but how many of those 100 games was he a halfback? We got him from the Bronx where he played fullback. He has room to grow as a genuine 7. That 3 game stretch where he masterminded wins against Penrith and Redcliffe and the clinics he put on against the cowboys and Broncos are why we are not getting the wooden spoon this year. Hindsight is a Shit thing cos in hindsight Webby probably should have given him the drivers seat earlier but I don't blame him for having patience with SJ given his form last year. He's our best option for next year, not necessarily long term but in the short term there are no other options, we need to go all in on him until Jett comes through.
Hes been great for kiwi league. But yer all gota go sometime. Credit to em'