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Enough with the sour grapes – Shaun Johnson is the world's best rugby league player

19th December, 2014
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The New Zealand Warriors hit the road trying to build some consistency against the New Zealand Warriors. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Wayne Drought)
Roar Guru
19th December, 2014
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Shaun Johnson’s wizard-like Four Nations performance should go down as one of the most dominant displays by a half in international rugby league history – that is why he won the Golden Boot.

The award is awarded to the best player over a calendar year that includes club and Test match performances, but Rugby League World editor Gareth Walker has said weighting is given to Test performances.

Johnson collected man-of-the-match awards in both triumphs against Australia – first, the 30-12 boil-over, then the more impressive 22-18 win in the final. He also played leading hands in the close victories against England and Samoa.

His goal kicking was accurate, he outpointed his rival halfbacks during general play, his gravity-defying bombs caused havoc for all three teams, and he reached interstellar status with his performance at Wellington. He was that influential. Cooper Cronk, Gareth Widdop and Ben Roberts had solid outings, but none ripped open the game like the Kiwi halfback. Johnson was the most dominant player in Test football in 2014.

He had a solid club season with the Warriors, who finished with the NRL’s third-best attack of 104 tries in 24 games, only bettered by the Cowboys (105) and the Roosters (106). His job is to spark the attack; he did his job well in a team that missed the playoffs.

It was much like Benji Marshall’s watershed year in 2010, where he had a great Four Nations and a solid NRL season. Billy Slater and Greg Inglis had very strong Test performances in 2008 and 2009 respectively, plus were at the core of the Melbourne’s Storm’s resurgence in those years. And it continues.

Sam Burgess had an incredible club season. That is why polled what he did. But with no Tests he could only get so far.

There is a common theme with the previous Golden Boot winners – all had above average-performances in Test and club colours. The likes of Wally Lewis, Peter Sterling, Hugh McGahan, Garry Schofield, Andrew Johns, Stacey Johns, Brad Fittler, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis. Thirteen judges from Australia, England, France and New Zealand vote on who they think is the best in the world – and that is why it stands out as such a prestigious award. It’s bigger than the Dally M.

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That is also why there has been a backlash – people are still trying to accept that New Zealand emerged as Test champions of 2014. There was similar outcry in 2012 when Kevin Sinfield won, having had big performances in the finals of Super League and in their Tests against France and Wales. It’s an international award.

Given New Zealand’s dominance and England’s solid performances with their new-look team this year, just maybe Australia might slip back down the pecking order.

I’m not holding my breath, but if it does happen, then certain journalists and fans better get used to more Golden Boot winners from different countries.

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